Medicare will cover a significant portion of your health-care costs, but it’s not free. It’s complicated, too. Here are some common mistakes to avoid.
1. Failing to sign up for Medicare because you aren’t receiving Social Security benefits
If you're already receiving Social Security benefits, you'll automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you turn 65. But if you’ve decided to postpone filing for Social Security until full retirement age or later, you'll need to sign up for Medicare. You have a seven-month window to sign up—from three months before your 65th birthday month to three months afterward. For most people, Part A is free, so there’s no reason to wait.
2. Missing the deadline to sign up after you leave your job
If you’re still working at age 65 and have health insurance coverage through your employer, you probably don't have to sign up for Medicare. That will allow you to avoid Part B premiums. But if you leave your job, you need to enroll within eight months. Otherwise, you may have to wait until the next enrollment period. That means you could go for several months without coverage. You may also get hit with the 10% lifetime late-enrollment penalty.
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3. Choosing the wrong Medigap policy
If you buy a so-called Medigap policy within six months of enrolling in Medicare Part B, you can get any plan in your area, even if you have a pre-existing medical condition. A private Medigap policy provides supplemental coverage to traditional Medicare. But if you try to switch plans after that, insurers in most states can reject you or charge more because of your health. For that reason, it's important to pick your plan carefully.
4. Assuming that your medical providers will always be covered by your Medicare Advantage plan
If you get your coverage through a private all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan, which covers both medical expenses and prescription drugs, you usually need to use the plan's network of doctors and hospitals to get the lowest co-payments. For that reason, it's important to make sure your doctors, hospitals and other providers are covered from year to year. You can switch Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment each year from October 15 to December 7. You can compare out-of-pocket costs for the plans available in your area by using the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov. After you've narrowed the list to a few plans, contact both the insurer and your doctor to make sure they'll be included in the network for the coming plan year.
5. Putting your Part D plan on autopilot
Open enrollment for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program also runs from October 15 to December 7, and that’s a good time to review all of your options. The cost and coverage can vary a lot from year to year. Watch out for an increase in premiums or your share of the cost. And if you've been prescribed new medications or a generic option for your drugs has become available, a different plan may now be a better deal for you.
This is just the start. See six more Medicare mistakes to avoid.
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