Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 10 February 2011 — Page 17

The Muncie Times • February 10, 2011 • Page 17

Medicare Part B medical insurance general enrollment period ends March 31

By John Williams Social Security public affairsspecialist If you needMedicare Part B medical insurance and you are eligible, now is the time to enroll.The 2011 general enrollment period for Part B runs from Jan. 1 through March31. Before you make a decision about enrollment, let us fill you in on somegeneral information. Medicareis a federal hospital, medical and prescription drug insurance program for people65 and older as well as those who have been entitled to Social Securitydisability benefits for more than 24 months. Some people are covered only byone type of Medicare, while others opt to pay extra for more coverage.Understanding Medicare can save you money. Here are some facts. Thereare four parts to Medicare: Parts A, B, C and D. Part A helps pay

for in-patient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care and other related services. Part B helps pay for doctors' fees, out-patient hospital visits and other medical services and supplies not covered by Part A. Part C allows you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. Part C plans, known as Medicare Advantage Plans, may help lower your costs of receiving medical services, or you may get extra benefits for an additional monthly fee. You must have both Parts A and B to enroll in Part C. Finally, Part D is the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. You need to be enrolled in Part A or B to get Part D.

Mostpeople

first

become eligible

for

Medicare at age

65.

Generally,

they

receivepremium-free Part A coverage but have to pay monthly premiums for MedicareParts B, C and D. In2011, the standard Part B premium is $115.40. Some highincome individuals paymore than the standard premium. Your Part B premium also can be higher if youdo not enroll during your initial enrollment period or when you first becomeeligible. However,there are exceptions to this rule. For example, you can delay Medicare Part Benrollment without having to pay higher premiums if you are covered under agroup health plan based on your own current employment or the currentemployment of any family member. If this situation applies to you, later youcan sign up for Medicare Part B without paying higher premiums: In any month you areunder a group health plan based on your own current

employment or the currentemployment of any family member; or Within 8 months afteryour employment or group health plan coverage ends, whichever comes first. If you are disabled andworking (or you have coverage from a working family member), the same rulesapply. People who receiveSocial Security payments automatically get enrolled in Medicare Parts A and Bwhen they first become eligible. Enrollment in Part C andD are not automatic and requires action on your part to sign up for theseoptions. People who do not receive Social Security payments would need toenroll in Medicare 3 months before attaining age 65, if they want coverage tobegin at that time. If you do not enroll inMedicare Part B when you first become eligible to apply and you do not fit intoone of the above categories, you will have to

wait until a general enrollmentperiod, which is Jan. 1 through March 31 of each year. Your Part B coveragewould begin July 1 of the year you enroll and you may have to pay a higherMedicare Part B premium. For more informationabout Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, visit the Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services (CMS) website at www.medicare.gov or read our publication on Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/p ubs/10043.html.In addition,you can get free Medicare and other insurance related counseling by contactingthe Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-452-4 8 0 0. Click here for a factsheet and link to online services available at www.socialsecurity.gov

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