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Can You Get Medicare Without Social Security

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Can You Apply For Medicare Without Social Security

December 21, 2021 By Danielle Kunkle Roberts

Many people think you must enroll in Social Security before applying for Medicare fortunately, thats not the case. Social Security and Medicare are tied together in some ways, but in others, they are separate. In this post, well go over what you need to know about how the two go together.

Medical Conditions And Disabilities

If you have certain disabilities, you may be eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A benefits even if youre under 65 years old.

Social Security Disability Insurance recipients

If you have a disability and have been receiving SSDI benefits for at least 24 months , you will automatically be enrolled in premium-free Medicare at the beginning of the 25th month.

ESRD

If your doctor has diagnosed you with ESRD and youve received a kidney transplant or youre on dialysis, you qualify for Medicare benefits if one of the following criteria applies:

  • you qualify for Social Security retirement benefits
  • you qualify for Railroad Retirement Board benefits
  • your spouse or parent worked long enough to be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits

When you become eligible for Medicare benefits depends on whether you receive dialysis at home or in a treatment facility:

  • If youre receiving dialysis in your home, you can apply for Medicare the first day you begin your dialysis program. You need to be sure to apply before the third month of treatment.
  • If you receive dialysis in a treatment facility, you can apply for Medicare on the first day of the fourth month of your treatment.

If youre scheduled to receive a kidney transplant, you can apply for Medicare on the first day of the month youre admitted to the hospital to start preparing for the transplant. But if your transplant is delayed, your Medicare benefits wont start until 2 months before the month your transplant takes place.

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When To Start Your Social Security

Here in America, you are eligible to begin taking Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, that is only if you have earned enough credits. The latest that you can start your benefits is at age 70.

If you begin your Social Security benefits at age 62, your benefits will be reduced based on the number of months that you receive your benefits before you have reached your full retirement age.

Your full retirement age in terms of Social Security is generally at age 66 and a half. However, this varies based on the year that you were born. Visit this page on the Social Security website for more specifics.

In very simple terms, taking income benefits earlier than your full retirement age means your benefit amount will be lower. Waiting and taking those benefits later, up to age 70, means you will have a larger monthly benefit check.

Delaying your Social Security income benefits does not affect your eligibility for Medicare at age 65 either.

Can I Get A Medicare Supplement Plan Too

Can I Get Medicare Without Claiming Social Security?

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, helps pay your out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare. Rather than covering healthcare directly, these plans help pay your share of costs for services covered by Medicare Part A and Part B.

These plans are also offered by private insurance companies. As with the other private Medicare offerings, you can buy these plans if you are eligible for Medicare, even if you dont receive Social Security benefits of any kind.

It is relevant to note that if you want one of these plans, buying it during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is your best option. It’s one of the rare times you have guaranteed issue rights. Your Medigap OEP begins the day you’re both age 65 or older AND enrolled in Original Medicare.

When you have guaranteed issue rights, you dont have to deal with medical underwriting. This means that the insurance company cannot deny you coverage or charge you more, even if you have pre-existing medical conditions. Unless you qualify for guaranteed issue rights, Medigap insurers do not have to sell a plan to you.

Medicare Supplement plans are only available to people with Original Medicare. If you have Medicare Advantage, you cannot purchase a Medigap plan.

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Keeping Your Medicare Card Safe

Keep your Medicare card in a safe place, and dont let anyone else use it. Always have your card handy when you call Medicare with questions.

You should take your Medicare card with you when you receive any health care services or supplies. Even if you havent reached your deductible, your doctor will need your card information to submit a claim. That claim will be applied to your deductible so you can use your benefits sooner. If you receive a new Medicare card, show it to your doctors office staff so they can make a copy of the updated information.

If you misplaced or lost your card, you can get a replacement Medicare card.

To learn about Medicare plans you may be eligible for, you can:

  • Contact the Medicare plan directly.
  • Contact a licensed insurance agency such as Medicare Consumer Guides parent company, eHealth.
  • Or enter your zip code where requested on this page to see quote.

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Your Social Security Benefits Could Be Reducedtemporarily

Your age matters here, as well see below, but any reductions that do occur are temporary. The IRS will eventually recalculate your benefit and give you credit for months when you didnt receive a benefit, thereby boosting your future benefit. So, dont let a temporary reduction in payments keep you from returning to work. Heres how the age rules work:

If you havent yet reached your full retirement age between 66 and 67 for people born in 1943 or laterworking could mean temporarily giving up $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual limit .

Heres an example of how that might look:

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Q What Documents Will I Need To Provide When I Apply

A. You will need to provide verification of your income. You do not need to provide proof of your assets or resources or come into our offices to be interviewed unless you are applying for one of the Long Term Care Medicaid programs .

If you are pregnant, you will need to provide proof that you are pregnant. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to provide proof of your alien status. For example, you can provide a copy of your green card.

If you apply online using ASSIST, a web page at the end of the application will tell you exactly what documents must be sent by mail to support the application you are submitting, and the appropriate mailing address.

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Should I Sign Up For Medicare Part A

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Most people who have worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10 years can get Medicare Part A with no monthly premium. Because of this, many people choose to sign up for Medicare Part A even if they have health insurance through work.

Medicare Part A covers things like hospice care and skilled nursing facility care that your health plan through work might not cover.

When youre getting Social Security benefits, youre automatically signed up for Part A. If youre not getting Social Security, you should sign up directly through Social Security. Find out how to sign up in our Help Center.

Tip: Always talk to your company’s human resources department before you make the decision to sign up for Medicare. Your health insurance plan might work differently for you after you sign up for Medicare.

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Can I Get Medicare If I Never Worked

You can still get Medicare if you never worked, but it will likely be more expensive. Unless you worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10 years also measured as 40 quarters you will have to pay a monthly premium for Part A. This may differ depending on your spouse or if you spent some time in the workforce.

How To Apply Online For Just Medicare

Are you within three months of turning age 65 or older and not ready to start your monthly Social Security benefits yet? You can use our online retirement application to sign up just for Medicare and wait to apply for your retirement or spouses benefits later. It takes less than 10 minutes, and there are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required.

To find out what documents and information you need to apply, go to the .

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If You Get Medicare For Disability And Then Return To Work

If you get Medicare due to disability and then decide to go back to work, you can keep your Medicare coverage for as long as youre medically disabled.3 And, if you do go back to work, you wont have to pay the Part A premium for the first 8.5 years.

Part A is premium-free for those with a disability and under 65 only if you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits for 24 months or have ESRD and meet certain requirements.4

If youre 65 or older, Part A is premium-free if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, you already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, or youre eligible for these benefits but havent filed for them yet.5

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Social Security And Medicare Timing

Can You Get Medicare Without Social Security?

Many people retire and start Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits at about the same time. Its logical to do that. But its not the only way. It may not be the best way for you.

You can make independent decisions about all three. You can start them years apart. You can start them in any order

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Is It Mandatory To Sign Up For Medicare After Age 65

No, it isnt mandatory to join Medicare. People can opt to sign up, or not.

If you don’t qualify for Social Security retirement benefits yet, you may need to manually enroll in Medicare at your local Social Security office, online or over the phone when you turn 65. You can also apply online for your Medicare coverage at www.medicare.gov.

Enrolling in Medicare as soon as youre eligible ensures you get the subsidized health care you deserve without waiting periods or financial penalties.

If you continue to work for a company employing 20 or more people after you turn 65, you could delay your Medicare enrollment. Your employee group plan provides enough medical coverage while youre working, meaning you may be able to wait to sign up for Medicare once you retire without incurring any late penalties.

What To Do: Do The Math Before Retiring

As youre approaching retirement, check your earnings statement first to make sure you have enough credits to qualify for Social Security. If you dont already have 35 years of earnings, consider whether working an additional year or two could help boost your Social Security benefits.

For example, if you worked a first career where you werent covered by Social Security, working for an extra year or two might ensure you qualify for Social Security benefits or boost your monthly benefit amount.

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If You Get Ssdi Benefits And Are In A 24

  • You may be able to get Medicaid coverage while you wait. You can apply 2 ways:
  • Create an account or log in to complete an application. Answer yes when asked if you have a disability. Well forward your application to your state Medicaid agency.
  • Apply directly to your state Medicaid agency. Select your state from the menu on this Medicaid page for contact information.
  • If youre eligible for Medicaid, your Medicaid eligibility may continue even after you enroll in Medicare.
  • If youre turned down for Medicaid, you may be able to enroll in a private health plan through the Marketplace while waiting for your Medicare coverage to start. You may qualify for lower costs on Marketplace coverage based on your income and household size.
  • When asked about your income on your Marketplace application, be sure to include your SSDI income.

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    Can I Sign Up For Medicare Plans Online

    Get it. Use it. Stay healthy. Tlingit

    Enrolling in Medicare coverage options online is generally easy and quick. More and more people are signing up online, according to an eHealth study. During 2018, about 16% of people in the study enrolled in Medicare coverage options online. Thatâs up from only 10% in 2017. In other words, about 60% more people in the study used eHealthâs online enrollment tool to sign up in 2018 than in 2017.

    Itâs interesting to note that online enrollment was even higher during âQ4.â Q4 means the 4th quarter of the year, October through December. Thatâs when Medicareâs Fall Open Enrollment happens for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans. Fall Open Enrollment goes from October 15 â December 7 every year.

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    Qu Pasa Si Se Atrasa El Pago De Mi Prima

    Si se atrasa en el pago de su primera factura, recibirá una segunda factura. Su segunda factura incluirá tanto las cantidades anteriores como la prima del próximo mes. Si no paga el monto total adeudado antes del 25 del mes, recibirá una factura en mora. Si recibe una factura en mora y no paga su cantidad total antes del dÃa 25, perderá su cobertura Medicare.

    Signing Up For Medicare Part A At 65 If Youre Still Working

    If you’re still working at age 65 and not claiming Social Security benefits, the government will not automatically enroll you in Medicare Part A, which covers hospital stays.

    If you work for a company with 20 or more employees and you’re enrolled in your employer’s health insurance plan, you do not have to enroll in Part A. If your employer covers the bulk of your premiums, you have a low deductible, and you’re not eligible for premium-free Part A, it might make sense to continue relying solely on your workplace coverage.

    If you’re eligible for premium-free Part Amost people are because they’ve paid Medicare taxes throughout their working yearsyou might as well enroll since you’ve earned it. As secondary health insurance, Part A may cover hospital expenses your employer’s plan does not.

    If you work for a company with fewer than 20 employees, you should enroll in Part A as soon as you’re eligible. Medicare will become your primary payer.

    If you’re covered by a Health Insurance Marketplace plan or COBRA, you should sign up for Medicare Part A during your initial enrollment period, which starts three months before you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends three months after you turn 65.

    Although Medicare Part A pays for inpatient hospital stays and nursing care, there’s an annual deductible, which is $1,484 for 2021 and $1,556 for 2022. Many people don’t pay a monthly premium for Part A, and there are no coinsurance costs for hospital stays of 60 days or less.

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    Should Immigrants Consider Short

    Immigrants who are unable to afford ACA-compliant coverage might find that a short-term health insurance plan will fit their needs, and its far better than being uninsured. Short-term plans are not sold through the health insurance exchanges, so the exchange requirement that enrollees provide proof of legal residency does not apply with short-term plans.

    Short-term plans provide coverage thats less comprehensive than ACA-compliant plans, and for the most part, they do not provide any coverage for pre-existing conditions. But for healthy applicants who can qualify for coverage, a short-term plan is far better than no coverage at all. The premiums for short-term plans are far lower than the unsubsidized premiums for ACA-compliant plans, but most lawfully present immigrants will qualify for premium subsidies in the exchange, especially in 2021 and 2022 as a result of the American Rescue Plans subsidy enhancements.

    Recent immigrants who are eligible for premium subsidies in the exchange will likely be best served by enrolling in a plan through the exchange the coverage will be comprehensive, with no limits on annual or lifetime benefits and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. But healthy applicants who arent eligible for subsidies , may find that a short-term policy is their best option.

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    What Are My Rights As A Medicare Beneficiary

    How To Apply For Medicare Part B Online

    As a Medicare beneficiary, you have certain guaranteed rights. These rights protect you when you get health care, they assure you access to needed health care services, and protect you against unethical practices.

    You have these rights whether you are in Original Medicare or another Medicare health plan.

    Your rights include, but are not limited to:

    The Right to Receive Emergency Care

    If you have severe pain, an injury, or a sudden illness that you believe may cause your health serious danger without immediate care, you have the right to receive emergency care. You never need prior approval for emergency care, and you may receive emergency care anywhere in the United States.

    The Right to Appeal Decisions About Payments or Services for Medical Care

    If you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you have the right to appeal denial of a payment for a service you have been provided. If you are enrolled in another Medicare health plan, you have the right to appeal the planâs denial for a service to be provided.

    The Right to Information About All Treatment Options

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