Medicare

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover your inpatient care in

hospitals and skill nursing facilities. It also helps cover hospice care and

some home health care.

For most people, Medicare Part A does not have a monthly payment. This is

because you and/or spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.

You must contact the Social Security Administration to apply for Medicare

Part A, if you are within three to six months of turning age 65 and are not

yet receiving Social Security benefits.

If you already receive Social Security benefits, you will automatically enroll

in Medicare Part A starting the first day of the month you turn age 65.

If you are already enrolled in Medicare Part A, locate your Medicare ID card

to make certain of your enrollment.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover your doctors’ services

and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A

does not cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational

therapists, and supplies when they are medically necessary.

There is a Medicare Part B premium that is paid from an automatic

deduction from your monthly Social Security check. The Medicare Part B

monthly premium for 2008 is $96.40.

If you already receive Social Security benefits, you are automatically

enrolled in Part B starting the first day of the month you turn age 65.

Locate your Medicare ID card to be certain that you are already enrolled.

You do not need to enroll in Medicare Part B until you retire even if you are

over age 65. To avoid penalty at retirement when over age 65, you must

complete the enrollment in Part B within eight months following your

retirement effective date. To enroll, obtain the necessary form from the

Social Security office. The form is to be completed by you with a portion

needing verification from the Benefits Department.

Social Security Benefits