After Enrollment
Congratulations!
So, you’ve successfully enrolled in your Medicare benefits. What’s next?
Now that you’ve completed your research and have enrolled in the plan(s) that meet your needs and budget, the next step is to understand how to use your benefits. As you become acclimated, rest assured we are here to support you as you continue on your Medicare journey.
Create an Online Account with Medicare.gov
Medicare.gov is the online home for the Medicare program. Registering your own account will allow you to better manage your Medicare benefits, especially if you are receiving care under Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
Here are some of the benefits of creating an online account:
✓ You can manually pay your Medicare premiums
✓ You can request your Medicare summary notices (claims notices) be delivered electronically to your account
✓ You can name an authorized representative
✓ You can track your Part B deductible
✓ You can search for providers and create a list of favorites
✓ You can store your prescriptions in the Plan Finder for quick review during the Annual Enrollment Period
Medicare: What's Covered App
If you are interested in staying current on Medicare benefits or you want to know if a procedure is covered, you can complete your research using the Medicare App.
Click here for directions on how to download to your smart phone.
Paying Your Medicare Premiums
Making your premium payments for your Medicare benefits is imperative to maintaining your coverage. This includes your premiums for all parts of Medicare that you are currently enrolled in, as well as Medicare Supplement, when applicable.
Most Medicare beneficiaries receive premium-free Part A, so there is no payment associated with this part of Medicare. If you are responsible for paying Part A, you will receive a bill for your payment in the mail.
To pay for your Medicare Parts A and B benefits, you have a number of options:
✓ You can pay for your premiums through your Social Security Check.
✓ You can use Medicare Easy Pay. By using this service, you will have your Part B Medicare expenses deducted directly from your checking account each month. Learn how to sign up for Easy Pay in the video below.
✓ You can pay via paper check. You will receive a quarterly bill and you will be responsible for mailing in your payment.
✓ You can pay using your credit card. Information on how to do this will be provided at the bottom of your paper bill.
If you have elected to enroll in Part C (Medicare Advantage) or Part D, you will establish payment with the insurance company associated with that plan. At the time of enrollment, you can establish your preferred method of payment, but will have the option to change should you prefer a different method in the future.
Contact your insurance provider to establish any of the following payment methods:
✓ Pay via EFT/Automatic Debit from your checking/savings account
✓ Have premiums deducted from your Social Security check
✓ Pay via credit card
✓ Pay via check
An important note: When electing for Social Security payment, please anticipate a lag-time between requested change date and actual payment. Therefore, be prepared to make 1-2 months of payments until the designated plan processes your request and the change is made.
If you have elected to enroll in a Medicare Supplement, you will establish payment with the insurance company associated with that plan. At the time of enrollment, you can establish your preferred method of payment, but will have the option to change should you prefer a different method in the future.
Contact your insurance provider to establish any of the following payment methods:
✓ Pay via EFT/ Automatic Debit from your checking/ savings account
✓ Pay via credit card
✓ Pay via check
An important note: When electing for Social Security payment, please anticipate a lag-time between requested change date and actual payment. Therefore, be prepared to make 1-2 months of payments until the designated plan processes your request and the change is made.
Unfortunately, by missing payments or being late, you risk losing your Medicare benefits. You will be given a grace period associated with your payment method, so your coverage won’t be immediately terminated. However, you should take all precautions necessary to make sure you pay in full and on time to avoid any problems.
✓ If you are using bank draft, credit card or paper check, make sure your accounts are able to handle a year’s worth of payments so you can avoid a situation where your payment is not made due to your transactions reaching their limit.
✓ For your Part C, Part D and Supplement plans, we recommend that you check with your insurance providers to understand their payment policies and how you can best comply to avoid any missed or late payments.
Any cancellation actions will be sent to you via mail.
How to Enroll in Easy Pay
If you want to have SSA draft your Medicare Part B, C and D premiums (as well as your IRMAA payments) from your bank account, you can sign up for Medicare Easy Pay.
This is an option for those that are NOT currently receiving SSI benefits.
Please see our “how to” video on setting up Easy Pay.
Naming an Authorized Representative
What is an Authorized Representative and why is it important?
Medicare doesn’t recognize power of attorney or any other legal document that provides an individual the ability to make decisions on your behalf. They do, however, allow you to name an Authorized Representative to act on your behalf.
To appoint an Authorized Representative or change a current representative, we recommend logging into your Medicare.gov account and initiating or changing your representative by completing the online version of the “Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information” form.
If you do not have an online account, you can complete and mail it to the address provided.
Be Aware of SSA Phone Scams
Should you expect calls from Social Security? No, you shouldn’t, and here’s what you need to know.
The SSA will never call you and ask for your Social Security number. Never. In fact, it is rare that SSA will ever call you. So, even if your caller ID shows the 1-800-772-1213 number, be suspicious as that can’t be trusted.
Do not give any personal information over the phone, including your social security number, credit card or bank account information. An authentic SSA representative will never ask you for this information.
Important!!! Never share your Medicare number over the phone, via email, or with someone whose identity cannot be verified.
Understanding Your Medicare Card
Once you receive your Medicare identification card, it is important to understand the information on the card and how to use it.
If you are going to access care under Medicare Parts A and B, along with a Medicare Supplement plan, you want to carry this card and present it anytime you are seeing a medical provider.
The number on your card, known as your Medicare Beneficiary ID, is what your providers will use to bill Medicare.
Your Parts A and B start dates are important to know should you choose make changes to your benefits in the future.
This information is very important and you only want to share this with your providers. Never share this over the phone or with anyone that is not directly tied to your medical care.
On Your Medicare Card
Important information that you will find on your Medicare card includes:
✓ The phone number for Medicare. Use this to contact Medicare for any issues you have.
✓ Your Medicare claim number. This number is unique to you and should be protected at all times.
✓ The Medicare parts you are currently enrolled in (Parts A and/or Part B). When first applying, make sure these match the Medicare parts you wish to be enrolled in.
✓ The date(s) that your coverage begins. These are important as they not only relate to the start of your benefits, but also your ability to enroll during your IEP.
Supplemental Insurance Cards
Depending on the plan you selected, you will have your Medicare card as well as other cards such as a Medicare Advantage card, Medicare Supplement card and/or a Medicare Part D card. Keep your cards safe and handy as you will need to present them to your various providers and pharmacies to receive your benefits.
Note: If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you will no longer need to present your red, white and blue Medicare card to providers as all your care is coordinated through your Medicare Advantage company.
What If You Lose Your Medicare Card?
If you misplace your Medicare card, there are two ways to get a new one.
✓ Option 1 – Go to your medicare.gov account and request a new card be issued.
✓ Option 2 – Call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and request a replacement.
It can take a few weeks for your card to arrive, so be prudent in protecting and caring for your card.
Medicare Identity Theft and Fraud
Unfortunately, identify theft and fraud have become huge concerns for Medicare beneficiaries, with scammers targeting their victims via phone, social media, at events, and even door-to-door. It is crucial to be vigilant and aware of these scams, and to protect your Medicare card and number as you would your other personal identification.
If you suspect someone is misusing your Medicare information, you should immediately call one of the following:
✓ 1-800-Medicare or 1-800-633-4227 (TTY call 1-877-486-2048) – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
✓ 1-800-447-8477 – The Fraud Hotline of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Inspector General.
✓ 1-877-438-4338 (TTY 1-866-653-4261) – The Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft hotline.
Need Help Navigating Medicare?
Our licensed Medicare insurance agents are here to walk you through this process step by step.
Contact us today to start your journey with us!
