Part B Questions

[youngatheart]

I recently signed up for Medicare Part A. I am still working, and not getting SS. I also do not have any medical coverage through my employer. Although they offer it, I cannot afford it on the wage I make. My wife does not work either, and so we have no health insurance coverage of any kind. Scary, but the reality of this economic climate.
Am considering signing up for Part B, just so we have some coverage. How do I go about that since I am not taking SS?

 

[Mack]

I recently signed up for Medicare Part A. I am still working, and not getting SS. I also do not have any medical coverage through my employer. Although they offer it, I cannot afford it on the wage I make. My wife does not work either, and so we have no health insurance coverage of any kind. Scary, but the reality of this economic climate.
Am considering signing up for Part B, just so we have some coverage. How do I go about that since I am not taking SS?

Hi youngatheart and welcome!

You can sign up for Part B online at:

http://www.ssa.gov/medicareonly/

I would definitely recommend signing up for Medicare Part B since you have no other health insurance.

 

[youngatheart]

Hi Mack, and thanks for the welcome and the response.
To further clarify my question: how do I effect payment since I am not currently taking SS? Would like to have this answered before I dive into an official application on the website you recommended.

 

[Mack]

Hi Mack, and thanks for the welcome and the response.
To further clarify my question: how do I effect payment since I am not currently taking SS? Would like to have this answered before I dive into an official application on the website you recommended.

Payment is no problem, Medicare will invoice you for the first 3 months after they approve you and after that you can either let them invoice you and you can send a check, or you can have it deducted from your bank account.

I am in your situation, I am not getting Social Security benefits yet, but am getting Part A and Part B medicare so I just went through it last year. I elected to pay the first invoice they sent for 3 months (actually I don't think there is any choice, you have to pay the first 3 months when you first get it) and then I filled out the paper work for the checking account withdrawal so I wouldn't need to worry about missing payments or mailing checks.

As I recall at that time I had to call Medicare and have them send me the forms to fill out for the ETF from the checking account they weren't online. I don't know if that portion has changed or not.

Part B is actually cheaper this year than last year if you can believe that.