Medicare and You 2024

Question 1

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Answer 1

Helps cover:
* Inpatient care in hospitals
* Skilled nursing facility care
* Hospice care
* Home health care

Question 2

What are Medicare Advantage plans?

Answer 2

Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a
private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These. “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D. Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover— like certain vision, hearing, and dental services.

Question 3

Does original Medicare cover medical services outside the United States?

Answer 3

Original Medicare doesn’t cover medical care outside the U.S. You may be able to buy a Medicare
Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy that covers emergency care outside the U.S.

Question 4

Start comparing your current coverage with
other options. You may be able to save money
or get extra benefits. Visit

Answer 4

https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare

Question 5

October 15 to
December 7, 2023

Answer 5

Change your Medicare health or drug coverage for 2024, if you decide to. You can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan, or switch to Original Medicare during this Open Enrollment Period each year.

Question 6

January 1 to
March 31, 2024

Answer 6

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can change to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan) once during this time. Any changes you make will be effective on the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.

Question 7

What is Medicare telephone number?

Answer 7

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Question 8

Will I get Part A and Part B automatically?

Answer 8

If you’re already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A and Part B start the first day of the prior month.)

Question 9

If you’re under 65 and have a disability, when does Medicare start?

Answer 9

You’ll automatically get Part A and Part B after getting 24 months of disability benefits, either from Social
Security or certain disability benefits from the RRB.

Question 10

If you have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease), when does your Medicare start?

Answer 10

You’ll get Part A and Part B automatically the month your Social Security disability benefits begin.

Question 11

When do I have to sign up for Part A and/or Part B?

Answer 11

If you’re close to 65, but NOT getting Social Security or RRB benefits, you’ll need to sign up for Medicare. Visit SSA.gov/medicare to apply for Part A and Part B. You can also contact Social Security 3 months before you turn 65 to set up an appointment. If you worked for a railroad, contact the RRB.

Question 12

If you’re on dialysis, when does your coverage begin?

Answer 12

When you sign up for Medicare based on ESRD and you’re on dialysis, Medicare coverage usually starts on the first day of the fourth month of your dialysis treatments. For example, if you start dialysis on July 1, your coverage will begin on October 1.

Question 13

If you’re getting a kidney transplant

Answer 13

Medicare coverage can begin the month you’re admitted to a Medicare-certified hospital for a kidney transplant (or for health care services that you need before your transplant) if your transplant takes place in that same month or within the next 2 months.

Question 14

When Medicare coverage ends if you have a kidney transplant?

Answer 14

If you’re eligible for Medicare only because of permanent kidney failure, your Medicare coverage will end:
* 12 months after the month you stop dialysis treatments
* 36 months after the month you have a kidney transplant

Question 15

Your dialysis resumes, when does your Medicare coverage start?

Answer 15

You start dialysis again, or you get a kidney transplant within 12 months after the month you stopped getting dialysis
* You start dialysis or get another kidney transplant within 36 months after the month you get a kidney transplant

Question 16

What are the Part A and Part B enrollment periods?

Answer 16

Generally, you can first sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first of the month, your 7-month period starts 4 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 2 months after the month you turn 65.

Question 17

When do you sign up if your birthday is on the 1st of the month?

Answer 17

If you sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the first 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, in most cases, your coverage begins the first day of your birthday month. However, if your birthday is on the first day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the prior month. If you sign up the month you turn 65 or during the last 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

Question 18

Special Enrollment Period

Answer 18

Your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

This period doesn’t apply if you’re eligible for Medicare based on End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or you’re still in your Initial Enrollment Period.

Question 19

How long does a Special Enrollment last?

Answer 19

You can sign up for Part A and/or Part B:
* Any time you’re still covered by the group health plan
* During the 8-month period that begins the month after the employment ends or the coverage ends, whichever happens first

Question 20

What is COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)

Answer 20

Coverage, retiree health plans, VA coverage, and individual health insurance coverage (like coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace®) aren’t considered coverage based on current employment and don’t count as employer coverage for a Special Enrollment Period. There may be reasons why you should take Part B instead of, or in addition to, COBRA coverage. You have 8 months after your coverage based
on current employment ends to sign up for Part B without a penalty, whether or not you choose COBRA.

Question 21

Does Cobra coverage qualify for special enrollment?

Answer 21

You generally aren’t eligible for a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare when that COBRA coverage ends. To avoid paying a penalty, make sure you sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible. If you have retiree coverage, it may not pay for your health services if you don’t have both Part A and Part B.

Question 22

Are there exceptional situations for a Special Enrollment Period?

Answer 22

There are other circumstances where you may be able to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period. You may be eligible if you miss an enrollment period because of certain exceptional circumstances, like being impacted by a natural disaster or an emergency, incarceration, employer or health plan error, losing Medicaid coverage, or other circumstances outside of your control that Medicare determines to be exceptional.