Medicare FAQs

You are eligible for Medicare when you turn 65. Some people get Medicare automatically, and some have to sign up. You may have to sign up if you’re 65 (or almost 65) and not getting Social Security.

Medicare Part A covers hospital care. Medicare Part B pays for doctors’ services.

Medicare Advantage Plan, offers the same coverage as Part A and Part B and may include a Prescription Drug plan.

According to medicare.gov If you’re retired and have Medicare and group health plan (retiree) coverage from a former employer, generally Medicare pays first for your health care bills, and your group health plan coverage pays second.

The best plan is the one that meets your needs, that your doctor is in the network or in the provider network and that covers your medications.

Most people don’t pay the Part A premium because they paid Medicare taxes while working. However, most people pay the standard Part B premium amount (approximately $148.50 in 2021).

There are certain times of the year when you can sign up or change how you get your coverage. Every year you can check and make a change to your Medicare plan from October 15 to December 7 called the “Annual Election Period” annual enrollment period.

If you’re still working at 65, and you have coverage under a group health plan through an employer, then you don’t have to enroll in Medicare right now. But if your employer has less than 20 employees, you need to take Medicare Parts A and B, because that will be your primary insurance.

The Original Medicare doesn’t have provider networks; and you can use most of the hospitals or doctors throughout the country that takes Medicare.

For Medicare Part A, hospital insurance is premium-free and once you have it, you don’t have to do anything to keep it.