If you are receiving Social Security benefits, you will be automatically enrolled. You will receive your ID card three months prior to the month you turn 65. If you are not receiving Social Security payments, you will have to contact The Social Security Dept. to get signed up. Contact them at www.ssa.gov 60 days prior to your Part A & Part B effective date to get signed up and receive your ID cards. It takes 3 to 6 weeks to receive your card from that point.
Original Medicare Plan does not cover thefollowing services:
Unfortunately, Dental care is not covered by Medicare unless the treatment is related to TMJ or the result of an accident. Routine eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses are not covered by Medicare, but medical conditions of the eyes (glaucoma, cataract, etc.) are covered under your Medicare benefits. For routine dental and vision care, you will need to purchase a separate policy. You also have the option of enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan that has coverage for routine dental and vision care.
CMS does not endorse or oppose your enrollment in either plan, so enrollment is not required. However, you will assume the risk of an unlimited amount of medical expenses you may incur under Medicare Part B since it has no maximum out of pocket. When it comes to prescriptions, however, CMS will assess a late entrant penalty if you do not enroll in a Part D plan when you’re eligible and/ or your current creditable drug plan expires.
If you are still working, and your employer offers you group coverage, you can defer your Part A entitlement & B enrollment until retirement. Especially if your group plan premiums are cheaper (and often tax deductible) and the plan benefits are richer than Medicare’s.
Contributions into an HSA, per the IRS, is prohibited if you have Part A and/ or Part B. You may continue to spend down the account, however, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) premiums are an eligible HSA expense. Your FSA is not impacted by Medicare eligibility.
You can not have a Medicare Advantage and Medigap plan at the same time. This means that you will have to choose between the two options. Although it is not always ideal, you can choose to decline both and just have Medicare Parts A, B and D.
You may get a health plan in The Marketplace, but you will most likely not be eligible for a tax credit to help you pay a lower premium. Even you decline your employer-sponsored insurance, you are still considered to be ineligible for a lower premium and/ or lower cost share.