January 27th, 2015 FREE
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Time was when Medicare eligibility and one's full retirement age
for Social Security were both 65, but that's no longer the case. While
Medicare's age of eligibility remains 65, Social Security's full retirement age
is now 66 for those just becoming eligible, and this will soon rise to 67. But
just because you're not signing up for Social Security yet doesn't mean you
should postpone signing up for Medicare. In fact, there are financial penalties
for delaying Medicare enrollment.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has just launched a new
service that allows people to enroll online for their Medicare benefits even if
they are not yet ready to file for Social Security benefits. About a half
million Americans enroll in Medicare each year without applying for Social
Security benefits.
"This new online Medicare application will make it easier
for more people to enroll in Medicare," says Joe Baker, president of
the Medicare Rights Center. "It saves them a
trip to the Social Security office, and they can complete the application at
home, at their own pace." The SSA says its Medicare application takes less
than 10 minutes to complete.
You can use the online Medicare application if you are at least
64 years and 8 months old, do not want to start receiving Social Security
benefits in the next four months, and live in the U.S. or one of its
territories or commonwealths. The application guides you through a brief set of
questions that will help you consider either filing for Social Security and Medicare
benefits, or filing only for Medicare. There are links to more information for
people who have questions.
To use the new online application, click here. (You can also see a promotional
video starring the "Patty Duke Show" cast.)
For answers to questions about whether or not you should enroll
in Medicare, visit the Medicare Rights Center's Medicare Interactive, a free, web-based
counseling tool.
For an ElderLawAnswers article on coordinating Medicare and
employer coverage, click here.
For more on Medicare from ElderLawAnswers, click here.
Last Modified: 01/27/2015
Last Modified: 01/27/2015
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