Hi Toni:
I am 64 and will be 65 in early September. I plan to stop working at the end of September 2017. The Social Security office is confusing me regarding enrolling in Medicare since I turn 65 in September and retiring on the same month.
I’m having trouble deciding on the right supplemental plans for my wife (66) and me. I know we want to try original Medicare our first year. My wife already has Social Security and Part A Medicare. From reading the Toni Says Medicare column, I believe I will have six months to find us supplemental plans.
Will your Friendswood seminar on September 19,2017 cover information on how to select the right supplemental plan? Wayne from Friendswood
Wayne:
Over 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every month for the next 15+ years and knowing how to enroll in Medicare the right way is a daunting task. Every day the Toni Says® Medicare team helps people nationwide understand the maze of Medicare.
You are right to double check what the Social Security office is advising you because they cannot ask questions to pin point what your Medicare need may be.
Many who visit the Toni Says® office want to begin at least 90 days prior to begin their Medicare Parts A and B on the month they turn 65. Some wait until the day they are turning 65 only to discover that their Medicare could have started on the first day of the month that they turned 65.
Medicare has what is called the enrollment effective date schedule, which is not mentioned in the Medicare & You Handbook. The handbook, does discuss the “Initial Enrollment Period”, it states, “If you enroll in Part A and/or Part B the month you turn 65 or during the last 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, the start date for your Medicare coverage will be delayed”.
The “effective date schedule” is the 7 month period which occurs 3 month before turning 65, the month you turn 65 and 3 months after turning 65, but it is not as simple as this.
Below is the Medicare effective date schedule:
- Enrolling anytime 3 months before turning 65, your Medicare begins the first day of the month you turn 65.
- Enroll the month you turn 65, then Medicare will begin 1 month after you sign up.
Wayne could enroll in September; his Medicare begins October1st.
- Enroll 1 month after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 2 monthsafter you sign up.
Wayne enrolls in October; his Medicare begins December 1st.
- Enroll 2 months after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 3 monthsafter you sign up.
Wayne enrolls in November; his Medicare will begin February1st.
- Enroll 3 months after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 3 monthsafter you sign up. Wayne enrolls in December; his Medicare will begin March 1
Yes, Wayne attending a Confused about Medicare workshop can help you understand what your Medicare options are. Medicare is not cookie cutter…one size does not fit everyone.
Below is a list of this Fall’s Houston area Medicare workshops. Visit Tonisays.com for event specifics.
- Tuesday September 19th 6:00pm Friendswood United Methodist Church
- Tuesday September 26th 6:00pm St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church West U area
- Tuesday October 3rd, 6:00pm Sugar Creek Baptist Church, Sugar Land area
- Thursday, October 12th 6:00pm Life Church, SE Houston area
- Thursday, October 19th 6:00pm Copperfield Church, NW Houston area
Toni King, author of the Medicare Survival Guide®, which is a simple guide that puts Medicare in “people” terms, is on sale at www.tonisays.com. Email questions to info@tonisays.com or call the Toni Says Medicare team at 1/844-250-TONI (8664).
