Breaking down the enrollment periods and eligibility.
Provided by Jeff Gielau,ChFC
Medicare enrollment is automatic for some. For those receiving Social Security benefits, the coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65.1
If you are not receiving Social Security benefits at 65, you may be delaying until you reach full
retirement age, or until you reach 70. If you’re coming up on 65 and not receiving Social
Security benefits, SSDI, or benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, you can still apply for
Medicare coverage. You can visit your local SSA office or visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly/ to determine your eligibility.1
If you’re getting Social Security checks and approaching age 65, you’ll get a Medicare card in
the mail three months before your 65th birthday. If you are getting SSDI (Social Security
Disability Insurance; regardless of your age), the card is scheduled to arrive coincidental with
your 25th month of disability. You must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident of this
country. If so, you or your spouse must have earned sufficient credits to be eligible for
Medicare, typically earned over 10 years.2
When can you add or drop forms of Medicare coverage? Medicare has enrollment periods that
allow you to do this.
*The initial enrollment period is seven months long. It starts three months before the month in
which you turn 65 and ends three months after that month. You can enroll in any type of
Medicare coverage within this seven-month window – Part A, Part B, Part C (Medicare
Advantage Plan), and Part D (prescription drug coverage). As it happens, if you don’t sign up for
some of this coverage during the initial enrollment period, it may cost you more to add it later.1
*Once you are enrolled in Medicare, you can only make changes in coverage during certain
periods of time. For example, the open enrollment period for Part D is October 15-December 7,
with Part D coverage starting January 1.1
Do you have questions about eligibility or the eligibility of your parents? Your first stop should
be the Social Security Administration (see the contact information in the fourth paragraph
above). You can also visit www.medicare.gov and www.cms.gov.
Jeff Gielau, ChFC may be reached at 714-998-5433 or jag6@fortunefinancialservices.com.
www.sofinancialservices.com
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This
information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee
of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is
advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell
any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any
particular investment.
Securities offered through Fortune Financial Services, Inc. Santiago Orchard Financial & Insurance and Fortune Financial Services are separate
entities. Member FINRA / SIPC3582 Brodhead Road Suite 202 Monaca, PA 15061 724-846-2488
Citations
1. medicare.gov, October 20, 2020
2. aarp.org, October 1, 2020