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Medicare FAQs When can I join Part A? You can join Part A as soon as you turn 65 or otherwise become eligible for Medicare. Just sign up in your “initial enrollment period.” You can also join later on. How do I sign up? If you are receiving Social Security benefits when you become eligible, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Parts A and B. If you’re not receiving Social Security benefits, you can sign up for Part A at your local Social Security office. Can Part A refuse to cover me or delay coverage? Assuming you are eligible for Medicare, you can’t be refused Part A because of your medical history or a pre-existing illness. The time when your coverage begins depends on when you sign up. If you sign up promptly at the start of your initial enrollment period, your coverage will begin on the fi rst day of the month you become eligible. How does renewal work? Your Part A coverage renews automatically from year to year. You don’t have to do anything. Costs Premium Part A is free if you, or your spouse, have made payroll contributions to Social Security for at least 10 years (40 quarters). If you otherwise qualify for Medicare but neither you nor your spouse has worked for 10 years, you’ll pay a monthly premium. If you don’t enroll in Part A when you become eligible for Medicare, but later you decide to sign up, your premium could be higher—the later you sign up, the greater the penalty. However, if you, or your spouse, continue to work, your Part A premium will drop to zero and any late penalty will be waived once one of you has worked for 10 years (40 quarters). Cost sharing Deductible Before Part A begins paying a share of your costs, you must first pay a deductible. In 2010, your Part A deductible is $1,100. You’ll pay this deductible for each hospital stay, subject to certain limits. Co-payments You pay a co-payment after you have stayed a certain number of days. For hospital stays, you’ll pay $275 per day for days 61 through 90, and $550 per day for days 91 through 150. In a skilled nursing facility, you’ll pay $137.50 per day for days 21 through 100 that you stay. You’ll also pay a co-payment of $5 for each outpatient drug prescription you receive in hospice care. Co-insurance You will pay a small co-insurance payment if you use inpatient respite care for hospice patients. Advantages What’s not covered by Original Medicare? Here are some things Medicare doesn’t cover. • Custodial Care ( help with bathing, dressing, eating, etc ) • Some routine physical exams • Routine hearing tests • Most care while traveling outside the U.S. • Extended long term care • Many diabetic supplies • Most chiropractic services • Routine foot care • Acupuncture Medicare Part D Description Part D helps pay for the prescription drugs you use. Whether you buy Part D coverage is up to you. Prescription drug coverage is an insurance policy you buy from private companies. You can buy a separate policy just for drugs, called a prescription drug plan (PDP). Or you can buy some types of Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage. The federal government has created guidelines for which drugs must be offered by drug plans and set minimum standards of benefits.

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