The standard premium for someone who is new to Medicare Part B in 2024 is $174.70 per month. Since this premium amount is automatically deducted from your Social Security Income, this would be why the amount of your income went down.
If the Social Security Administration deems you as qualified for the Extra Help program, they will automatically enroll you into a Prescription Drug Plan with a private insurance company. For more information about this, please visit the Extra Help section of our website.
Your Medicare Card will have a Part A effective date and also Part B effective date. Part A refers to your Hospital coverage and typically has no monthly premium. Part B provides your Medical coverage and the standard premium for those new to Medicare in 2024 is $174.70 per month. You will not be able to use your card for medical services such as doctor’s appointments or urgent care until you reach your Part B effective date.
You should receive your card approximately 3 months before your Medicare Part B effective date begins. If you believe you did not receive the card or may have lost it, please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to order a new one.
Technically the answer is yes, you can. However, once your Part A Medicare becomes effective you will lose any of the premium tax credits, subsidies, or reduced cost-sharing you previously had. At this point, you will not be able to get lower costs based on your income so it is usually a better option to cancel your ACA plan once Medicare begins and instead select a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement.
In a case like this you will have already completed your waiting period for Medicare. So usually within approximately 30 days of receiving your Notice of Award you will also receive your Medicare Card.
Some people waiting on their Medicare effective date will qualify for Medicaid. In the state of Washington, individuals with an income of $943 or less in 2024 will automatically qualify. If your income is over that amount, you may still qualify by meeting your Spend Down. For more information on how a Spend Down works, click here.
For those that don’t qualify for Medicaid, you may be eligible for a plan through the Affordable Care Act with premium tax credits and reduced cost-sharing. To see what coverage you qualify for, call the Health Benefit Exchange at 855-923-4633 or click here to visit their website.
That depends on your Onset Date of Disability. Typically Medicare begins 29 months after your Onset Date. This includes the 5 month waiting period between your Onset Date and the start of your SSDI payments and then another 24 months of receiving those payments before your Medicare begins. (For those with ALS or ESRD, your Medicare benefits will begin as soon as your SSDI payments begin)
If you were determined to be disabled as of January 15, 2023, the 5 month waiting period would put your first SSDI payment on July 1, 2023. Then 24 months later, on July 1, 2025, your Medicare coverage would become effective. (If your Onset Date was determined to be on the 1st day of the month, that month can be counted in your 5 month waiting period)