วีดีโอ

That's frustrating indeed....but you have to use one of the options they give you.

Thank you for your question. It looks like you didn't change to a lower premium Part D plan during the Annual Enrollment Period this fall. Unfortunately, you'll have to stick with the plan you have for 2025...at the higher premium. Now, specific to your question, there are 4 reasons that someone should keep their Part D drug plan... 1.) To help reduce the cost of medications you're currently taking 2.) To help reduce the cost of medications you might be prescribed in the middle of the year 3.) To avoid a lifetime late enrollment penalty 4.) To benefit from the $2,000 cap on drug costs (starting in 2025). So if you were taking medications that were covered on your plan's formulary, you would at least have that protection. Without Part D, you don't.

??? There must be a typo. I don't understand your question. Can you re-try? Thanks.

@MedicareMindset for Facility enrollment on the first time in pecos where we go.. I tried from my end in pecos there is showing only for initial enrollment for individual.. so for 855b where we should go for group in pecos..

It's not coverage based on current employment...so you would answer NO. See 12:31 mark in the video that addresses this.

Also, if husband is still covered on my insurance does this still need to be sent in so he doesnt get penalized when he starts getting SS in Jan 2025, He is just on Part A. We signed him up online, called and talked to a representative to double check he was fine on not signing up for Part B. But a neighbor said her husband was penalized every year but was on her insurance? Please advise.

It's a good question, but I'm not 100% sure. I can only speculate. It's probably due to them being understaffed, inefficient, etc. So they are hoping this will help. I'm not sure it will though. We'll see.

@@corycollins2533 If your husband is covered on your plan based on your active employment, then he will not be penalized for not getting Part B right away. This also assumes your employer has 20+ employees, since Medicare would be secondary to the employer plan. What a neighbor says, usually will get you in trouble. Ha! ;o)

@@MedicareMindset LOL that is true, between all of your videos, researching foreevveerrr to get him set up, talking right to the lady at SS when he called (handed me the phone of course ;)) I thought why did he have problems have I missed something. I do feel like we are on track. They must have not done something right; I would have to talk to her to get firsthand of why.

@@MedicareMindset So do you mail it in or have to make an appointment to take it in

It looks like you told SSA that your total income in 2023 was going to be in a certain income range, but ended up being in a higher range. So yes, they are going to claw back those premiums you should've paid in 2023. Essentially, you were a little too aggressive with your 2023 income estimate. Form SSA-44 is the correct form to file the appeal / request for reconsideration when there is a life changing even that reduces your income to a lower income range now...versus 2 years ago. File Form SSA-44 to get your 2025 premium down. You'll use Work Stoppage or Work Reduction on Step 1 of page 2 of the form. You'll probably use a 2024 household income estimate on Step 2. And then provide the supporting documentation about your retirement in 2023 (or at least a letter of instruction briefly explaining that you retired in 2023 and household income has dropped significantly since then). Most importantly, you need to be accurate with your 2024 income estimate on Step 2 of the form. Make sure you truly end up in the income range you put on the form. Because as you know, they will claw back the premiums if you put in too low of a number and you end up in a higher income range in the end.

Just to clarify...are you enrolling AFTER turning 65 (after your initial 7-month initial enrollment period)? And when you say "applied online", are you now doing your first enrollment in Medicare to get Part A & Part B? Or do you have Part A already and you're just adding Part B through the online upload route at www.ssa.gov/medicare-partb-sep ?

@@MedicareMindset I was automatically enrolled in part A when I turned 65, still working so stayed on my employer plan. Now 67, I am dropping employer plan and enrolling in part b. I call SSA, they added a note to my file and said to get the corrected L564 form to my local SSA office, which I am doing today. They also noted on my file that I need coverage beginning Jan 1 2025. Fingers crossed!

@@josephwoods3552Okay, good. You'll get the 1/1/25 start date if you turned in the forms prior to 1/1/25. You'll be fine.

Sounds fine. You can certainly go that route, if you don't want to submit online.

Thanks for reaching out. This video explains how to submit the application for Medicare Part A only, or Part A & B online. It's not specific to your situation (enrolling in AFTER age 65). At the 2:00 minute mark, I mention that if you're 65+, you need to watch our video (How to Enroll in Medicare after Age 65). But really, you can see all the info you need on our Special Enrollment Period page: www.medicaremindset.com/sep

@ hi, thank you! I did enroll in Social Security at 62, and part A. I sent off paperwork today for part B. I don’t want the D. Thank you. I wish I had checked out TH-cam before spending a week trying to figure things out online, on my email notices from Social Security. My husband’s business is getting a lot of spouses off their insurance. I am not the only one to either double insurance payment or go on Medicare. We were told at their insurance meeting Dec. 10th, 2024.

Not that I'm aware of...but my video is basically the cheat sheet.

Thanks for your question. Since I don't know your DOB or situation, I'll have to give you more than you need. See below... For Part A, you can't choose the start date. - If you're enrolling in the 4 months prior to your 65th bday month, Part A will automatically start the 1st of your bday month. - If you're enrolling in the next 6 months (counting your bday month), your Part A will automatically backdate to the 1st of your bday month. - If you're enrolling more than 6 months after your bday month, your Part A will automatically backdate 6 months from the month you submit the application. For Part B, you can't choose your start date during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period...but the month you submit the application determines when it will start. - If you're enrolling in the 4 months prior to your 65th bday month, Part B will automatically start the 1st of your bday month. - If you're enrolling on your birthday month or the next three months after that (so still in your 7-month timeframe), Part B will automatically start the 1st of the next month after you submit the application. - If you're enrolling anytime AFTER your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period is over...AND you're covered on a group health plan based on your active work or your spouse's active work, then you can choose a start date of either 1, 2, or 3 months in the future. - If you're enrolling AFTER separating service from an employer, you have 8 months to enroll in Part B...but the start date will automatically be the 1st of the next month in which you submit the application.

Thank you so much. I am over 66 and covered by the group health plan through my current employment. I would like to enroll Part A and Part B online. This is the context I asked the question. I have the starting date of Part B. Can I ask for the same starting date for Part A in the Remarks?

@@charleschen4766 Thanks for confirming. No, you will not be able to choose your Part A start date. It will be backdated 6 months.

If the Social Security and Medicare start dates are the same month or within 1-2 months of each other, the Part B premium will be deducted automatically. But if the starting months are over 2 months off, you might be billed for 3 months of Part B before they start auto deducting it from the Social Security benefits.

Thanks. Do Medicare and Social Security usually get approved in the same time frame? My 65th birthday is this month (December) would like to sign up online for Medicare in January (still within my initial enrollment period correct? ) I would also like to sign up for Social Security at the same time in January so that the Medicare premium will be taken out of my Social Security. My concern is that there might be a lag time between the two not being processed at the same time. Thank you and you have gained a new subscriber! 😊

@@CindyStache Thanks for subscribing! Yes, you're still in your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare (goes through March 2025 in your case). If you enroll in Social Security and Medicare today (in Dec 2024)... Part A will backdate to 12/1/24. Part B will automatically start 1/1/25. On the application, you'll get the opportunity to choose the starting month for Social Security. If you choose Dec 2024 for Social Security benefits, your first check will hit Jan 2025...and Part B will start deducting right then in Jan 2025. Perfectly lines up! If you choose Jan 2025 for Social Security benefits, your first check will hit Feb 2025...and Part B will start deducting in Feb 2025. They will simply deduct Jan and Feb Part B premium on that first check to catch-up.

Great! I didn't realize that Medicare and Social Security benefits would kick in as soon as 2 weeks within signing up. So, If I waited until next month - January 2025 to sign up Part B would it start on February 1, 2025 and Part A would still be backdated to December 1,2024? Also, could I choose to start Social Security in February so it aligns to pay my first Medicare premium?

@@CindyStache Yes, if you started and submitted your application in January, Part A would go back to 12/1/24 and Part B would be 2/1/25. But the only way to get your Part B premium to perfectly align with your first Social Security check is by choosing a Retirement benefits start date one month prior to when your Medicare Part B starts.

Love to hear this!

I believe you can create a login.gov account with the new email address and then tie that login to your SSA account. If you get stuck, Login.gov has 24/7 support at 844-875-6446.

The deadline to change a drug plan was 12/7. And yes, the enhanced drug plans don't have a drug deductible.

Yeah, it seems weird that a much higher premium plan will end up with a lower total plan cost (premiums + drug copays)...but it can happen with Ozempic in the mix. Either of those plans can work for you. It sounds like the total expected costs won't be too much different. Either way, it sounds like you'll enjoy no copays for your covered drugs starting around the summer time! :)

We don't worry too much about star ratings for stand-alone Part D plans. Consider plans with a 2 star rating or higher. Usually 3.5 is the highest you'll see with Part D plans. Enhanced plans are those with no deductible for sure. And then some other plans might be enhanced too, even if it has a deductible. Another way you can tell is if you hit the Catastrophic phase and have no copays for the rest of the year, despite having total drug copays of clearly less than $2,000.

@@MedicareMindset thank you so much for a great clarifying video. I had seen this so thoroughly explained.

Showing them 2022 isn't helpful, as they are looking at 2023 now. So you could only use a 2024 or 2025 income estimate to appeal this. Your 2021 retirement is a little too far in the past, but maybe you could use your 2023 business sales as your "Life Changing Event"...and subsequent income drop in 2024 on step 2 of the form.

Some of the plans have a $590 deductible...mostly the lower premiums plans. But the higher premiums plans usually have a $0 deductible. Sometimes the Medicare website asks a little goofy. If you're getting some strange results, then take a break and come back to it later.

@@MedicareMindset Thanks so much for your response. I wish I can add a print screen here for you to see. Even the Wellcare Value plan has $0 premium have $0 deductible. I hope it just a little goofy from the Medicare website.

@@dannydoan3695 Hmmm, that is weird indeed.

Great! Love to hear this. And very glad you're helping your mom! :)

The employee is the employee who the insurance is based on. I think you meant to say "employer"? You need one of these forms for each employer you had health insurance coverage since turning 65. Let me know if I misunderstood.

If someone doesn't have a computer or internet, then they obviously aren't watching our TH-cam tutorials. Our videos are for someone who does have internet access and is searching for answers on how to properly perform this analysis, or get other answers to Medicare questions. A Social Security office is not going to provide any assistance finding the right Part D drug plan or supplemental plan. They have no clue, nor are they even licensed to provide guidance. And this is why Medicare beneficiaries should work with an independent Medicare insurance agency like ours. There is no cost to work with a licensed insurance agent to find the right Medicare plans. Take care! :)

Yes, your mom can enroll in Medicare. She can get Part A with no premium by enrolling through her ex-husband's work record. And then she can add Part B as well...BUT...she might be penalized for signing up for Part B late. It depends on what insurance coverage she has had since turning 65. If she's been on an employer health plan through her active work since 65, then she can enroll while on that plan or within 8 months after separating from the employer. But if she is NOT an employer health plan through active work, then she'll need to enroll during the General Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B (Jan 1 - Mar 31). Actually, she can enroll now. Part A can be done anytime, but they will give her a 2/1/25 Part B start date automatically if she's not on an employer plan based on active work. If you want to correspond via email, contact me at info@medicaremindset.com.

Despite not taking any meds, you'll at a minimum get the lowest premium Part D plan in your area. This avoids the Part D late enrollment penalty and is at least have a plan in place if you are prescribed meds in the future. The Part D plans get a subsidy from Medicare behind-the-scenes.

If you don’t have a need for prescriptions, pick a part D prescription plan that doesnt cost you anything. Just in case you need a prescription, like being diagnosed with heart disease out of nowhere, you would have coverage. Please please get a plan for drugs, you never know ❤

@@starfishjennie Thank you for caring. I did just that. Thank you!!!

In order to file an IRMAA appeal you need two things to happen: 1.) An allowed life changing event (e.g. Work Stoppage, Work Reduction, Death of Spouse, Divorce)...AND... 2.) A reduction of your adjusted gross income to a lower income range than shown on your tax return 2 years ago. Your high income in 2024 will impact your 2026 Medicare premiums...so it's not really an issue right now. 2025 Medicare premiums are based on your 2023 adjusted gross income. But for 2026, you might be able to appeal...IF the two scenarios above are true. It sounds like you have one of two happening, but I'm not sure if you have an allowed life changing event.

@@MedicareMindset Thank you

You bet!

Great! Glad to hear your drug plan is working well for you.

Awesome!

That's a tough one. Without a phone, I'm not sure how you would create the account. Try connecting with SSA to see if they can offer an alternate way to create the account.

@@MedicareMindset No response to mail sent with a SSAE with it.

@@MedicareMindset What is so tough about email verification and N/A in the box that ask for a phone number on the application?

Awesome!

Sorry to hear you're having some issues. It can be frustrating when you know you're entering the correct information, but the SSA system has trouble validating your identity. It sounds like you'll need to either to go to your local SSA office or call SSA to see about getting this reset.

1 minute 30 seconds into the video we show you where to get the forms. Please watch the video. It has everything you need.

If the employer has 20+ employees, he doesn't need to do anything about Part B yet. He would enroll in the 3 months leading up to the future loss of coverage date. The two forms will need to be submitted to SSA to add Part B. The 8 months beyond separation from the employer is a nice accommodation, but really you want Part B to start right as the employer coverage is ending.

Thank you so much!! That’s the information I needed. 😊

Well, definitely get a Part D plan to keep that penalty from getting larger. If he will be just 1yr late getting a plan, then his penalty will be about $4.20/mo (added on to the Part D plan's premium). Find the plan with the lowest expected cost for the year (plan premiums + drug copays).

He needs a plan because his drug costs could go up depending on his health

Thanks for reaching out. Those questions really won't matter when signing up at 65, or at a later time. If you're doing this at 65, it's really irrelevant. You're eligible based on age, and prior insurance doesn't even matter. Your Part B will start depending on which month of your 7-month IEP the application is submitted. If you're doing this after 65, the two additional forms (Form 40B and Form L564) that need to be submitted will address all of those important dates. And then the start date will be either 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months in the future. You would mark that down on Form 40B when submitting that form with Form L564 to your local SSA office.

@@MedicareMindset Sorry I dont understand how is it irrelevant? Hubs is still on coverage under my (wife) work health coverage for 5 more years. We would not mark the box yes that we want to sign up for medicare, right? He will get Part A automatically but doesnt need part b yet is what I am asking. Sorry, all of this is so confusing.

@@corycollins2533 Reference my previous response. I explained why the dates won't matter on the online application. When doing an online application for Medicare, Part A is assumed. You get it. But he would say NO to Part B when asked on the application...because he's staying on your large employer health plan. But the dates of employer coverage and employment are something else entirely and they won't impact the application whatsoever.

@@MedicareMindset Okay that reply is more understandable, I did re-read your first response it was this line that was confusing "If you're doing this at 65, it's really irrelevant. You're eligible based on age, and prior insurance doesn't even matter. Your Part B will start depending on which month of your 7-month IEP the application is submitted." Because he has my medical coverage for some years to come before he needs to start paying for Part B. Thank you for your quick responses

@@corycollins2533 All is good. Yes, he can add Part B later when coming off your group plan...either anytime while you're working or up to 8 months after separation of service. There will be no penalty. :o)

That sounds right, but I imagine your naturalization documents have an official date on them.

Usually if there is no deductible, that's a giveaway. Also when you see the total expected drug copays for the year...if the month-to-month total shows you at $0 copays eventually in the year, but it your copays are less than $2,000...it's an enhanced plan. The standard plans would show you at $2,000 in drug copays or close to it...again, assuming the drugs you take are expensive. Some people don't come close to $2,000 and could be fine in a standard plan.

Glad it was helpful.