Be sure to sign up for Part D in time to avoid paying higher premiums for prescription drug coverage.
En español l Medicare is uncharted territory for most of the 10,000 people who come into the program each day. It's not a minefield, exactly, but lurking in the undergrowth are pitfalls and traps that can be costly unless people take care to dodge them. "Avoiding the most common mistakes in Medicare can make the difference between having good financial and health security — or not," says Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer group. The center hears constantly from older Americans who've been forced to go without coverage for many months or to pay higher premiums for the rest of their lives — just because they didn't know the rules about enrollment. "We are campaigning to get the federal government to send a letter to everyone in their 64th year saying here's what you need to know and who to call to get a question answered," Baker adds. But right now, absent that information, here are the top 10 Medicare mistakes to beware of. 1. Assuming you don't qualify if you haven't worked long enough Earning 40 credits by paying payroll taxes at work — about 10 years' work — ensures that you won't have to pay premiums for Part A services (mainly hospital insurance) when you join Medicare. But you don't need any work credits to qualify for Part B (doctors' services, outpatient care, medical equipment) and Part D (prescription drugs), provided that you're 65 or older, and a U.S. citizen or a legal resident who's lived in the United States for at least five years. You may also qualify for Part A benefits on your spouse's work record, or you can pay premiums for them. If you wait to sign up until you've earned 40 credits, you may end up paying permanent late penalties. 2. Failing to enroll in Part B when you should Signing up at the time that's right for you is critical. If you don't, you risk late penalties, in the form of surcharges added to your premiums for all future years, and delays of several months before coverage kicks in. If you have health coverage beyond age 65 from an employer for which you (or your spouse) actively work, and the employer has 20 or more workers, you can delay Part B enrollment without penalty until the job ends. Otherwise, you need to sign up during your seven-month initial enrollment period — which includes the month you turn 65, three months before and three months after. Read More over at AARP.....
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The St. Lawrence County Chapter (SLCC) #2831 is a community of advocacy and volunteers whose purpose is to 1) promote at the local level the priorities, programs and policies specific for the benefit of our seniors, 2) maximize member engagement in a broad menu of services, information and educational activities, 3) demonstrate the contributions and potential of people who are 50+ to encourage their full participation in contemporary life, 4) create fundraising opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency, and 5) stimulate public interest in a variety of issues.
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November 2019
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