Insurance FAQ

Medicare is our country’s health insurance program. Although most commonly used by people age 65 or older, some younger people are eligible for Medicare, too. These include people with disabilities, permanent kidney failure, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Medicare helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. Medicare has four parts:
Part A—Hospital insurance;
Part B—Medical insurance;
Part C—Medicare Advantage; and
Part D—Prescription drug coverage.

If you already get Social Security benefits, we’ll automatically enroll you in Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B). We’ll mail you all the information you need a few months before you become eligible.

If you don’t get Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.
The easiest way to apply for Medicare is by using our online application.

If you don’t wish to apply online, make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) , 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Important Information about Medical Insurance (Part B) Coverage
Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down. However, if you decide to sign up for Part B later, your coverage can be delayed and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Your monthly premium will go up 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but didn’t sign up for it unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.

Choosing to sign up for Medicare is an important decision that involves a number of issues you may need to consider. The decision you make will depend on your situation and the type of health insurance you have. You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare Part B without a late enrollment penalty if you or your spouse (or a family member, if you’re disabled) is working, and you’re getting health insurance benefits based on current employment.

In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B.

Coverage based on current employment does not include:
COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act);
Retiree health coverage;
VA (Veterans Affairs) health coverage; or
Individual health coverage (like through the Health Insurance Marketplace).

In general, you can only enroll in non-group health plan coverage during the Open Enrollment period.

The Open Enrollment period in HealthCare.gov begins November 1 and closes at the end of the day on January 15 (Pacific Time). If you plan to sign up, be sure to complete your application and select your plan before Open Enrollment ends. If you want coverage to take effect on January 1, be sure to sign up no later than December 15. If you sign up after December 15, your coverage will take effect on February 1.

Once the Open Enrollment period is over, most individuals and families will not be able to enroll in Marketplace health plans until the next Open Enrollment period. However, if you experience certain changes in circumstances during the year, you will have a special 60-day opportunity to enroll in Marketplace Health plans, outside of the Open Enrollment Period.

A personal ”my Social Security” account is an online service you can use to check your Social Security information and conduct some business. To find all the services available and how to create an account, go to our ”my Social Security” page. You can trust that your information is safe. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) requires them to protect the information they collect from you.
If this is your first time trying to access my Social Security, you must choose to sign in with a Login.gov or an ID.me account. You will be directed to Login.gov or ID.me to register for an account if you do not have one. After successfully registering for your Login.gov or ID.me account, you will be redirected to a website to read and agree to the Terms of Service. From there, you can complete the registration and access your my Social Security account.
If you are unable to create an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:

Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 ), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”.

Contact your local Social Security office.

An HSA is an account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses and withdrawals to pay eligible medical expenses are tax-free.
By using pre-tax dollars in an HSA to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other qualified expenses, including some dental, drug, and vision expenses, you can lower your overall health care costs.

You can contribute to an HSA only if you have an HSA-eligible HDHP.