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When you become eligible for Medicare, your first course of action should be to enroll as soon as possible. This may seem overwhelming, but with the help of Health Care Solutions, it can be easy!
Regardless of eligibility, it’s a good idea to assess your medical needs. Compile the types of treatments you need, as well as a list of medications you’re taking. Medicare is so much more than just a policy. It’s many policies within one, with coverage that spans in multiple directions.
Your options include:
You can get one Medicare plan by itself, but it is encouraged that you at least get Medicare Part A and Part B. You never know when you are going to be hospitalized, and it’s unpredictable as to how frequently you’ll need to make outpatient visits in the future.
Each Medicare Part plays a different role:
If you’re in need of dental, vision, and/or hearing treatments, and would like to enjoy other benefits such as a gym membership, Medicare Advantage is worth considering.
If enrolling for the first time, you can join during these enrollment periods:
During the Initial Enrollment Period, you can join any Medicare plan. If you missed it, you’ll have to join during General Enrollment, which only allows you to join Medicare Part A and Part B (these two together are collectively known as Original Medicare).
Annual Enrollment requires you to already be enrolled in Original Medicare. During this time, you can join, switch, or drop policies. For example, someone with Original Medicare and a Part D plan may switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, and drop the Part D policy. Annual Enrollment takes place from October 15 to December 7.
If you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, Original Medicare enrollment will automatically be done for you in the three months leading up to your 65th birthday. If you receive disability benefits, you automatically get Original Medicare after 24 consecutive months of being on disability.
There are a few ways to enroll – first, you can visit your local Social Security office and enroll in person. You can also sign up via phone call with the Social Security office. Another is to go on the Social Security website. This is the fastest way.
And of course, you can call us, and we will help you in your enrollment every step of the way. It can be done in a matter of minutes.
When it comes to questions about Medicare, Health Care Solutions has the answers! We are here to make sure that you get a plan that you are truly satisfied with.