Medicare
MEDICARE
The scope of appointment is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirement used to document an in-person appointment with a beneficiary to ensure that no other types of products are discussed outside of what the beneficiary originally requested. Electronic SCOPES are provided for Mark and Kristine below.
SCOPE OF APPOINTMENT WITH MARK COVELL
SCOPE OF APPOINTMENT WITH KRISTINE KAZILIUNAS
If you would like for us to reach out to you to discuss Medicare options, you will need to complete the OK to contact form. Return the completed form to us by email, fax, or mail, and we will reach out to you.
INITIAL ENROLLMENT
FIRST THINGS FIRST. YOU WILL NEED YOUR MEDICARE CARD. If you are not taking Social Security when you turn 65, you will have to actively enroll in Medicare Part B. You should be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. For information on how to enroll in Medicare, click HERE.
You're eligible for Medicare when you turn 65. You can sign up during the 7-month enrollment period; this begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after the month you turn 65. In most cases, your Medicare will start the first of the month in which you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first of the month, then your Medicare will begin the first of the month prior to your 65th birthday.
You can sign up for Part A for free, if you're eligible, any time during or after your Initial Enrollment Period starts.
Your coverage start date for a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan will depend on when you sign up. If you have to buy Part A and/or Part B, you can only sign up during a valid enrollment period.
In most cases, if you don't sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible, you will have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B and could have a gap in your health coverage.
To sign up for Part B, complete an Application for Enrollment in Part B (CMS-40B) or sign up online at SSA.gov/medicare. If you don't have Medicare or you want to sign up for Part A (some people have to pay a premium for Part A), contact Social Security.
ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD
The Annual Election Period runs from October 15 through December 7 every year. You can change your Medicare Advantage plan or carrier without any medical underwriting (the one current exception is End-Stage Renal Disease, but that may be changing for 2021). You may make as many changes as you wish during this time. When you enroll in a new plan, it automatically disenrolls you from the previous plan. Your last selection made during this period will be the plan you will be enrolled in for January 1.
OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
The Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 every year. You may make one selection during this period. You can change your plan to another plan or carrier. You may also drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare and select a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (Part D Medicare). If you don't already have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may not enroll in one during this time.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS)
Once your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you may have the chance to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period. If you're covered under a group health plan based on current employment, you have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B any time as long as you or your spouse (or family member if you're disabled) is working, and you're covered by a group health plan through the employer or union based on that work.
You also have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B that starts the month after the employment ends or the group health plan insurance based on current employment ends, whichever happens first. Usually, you don't pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Special Enrollment Period.
COBRA and retiree health plans aren't considered coverage based on current employment. You are not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends. Currently, this Special Enrollment Period also doesn't apply to people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
THE ABC'S OF MEDICARE
DECIDING TO SIGN UP FOR MEDICARE PART B
CONTACT OUR DOWNSTREAM AGENTS DURING AEP
Richard Latham, (505) 659-9325, [email protected]
Susan Carrico, (505) 681-8067, [email protected]
Brenda Murray, (505) 228-3456, [email protected]
Tony Martinez, (505) 263-7765, [email protected]
Marena Drlik, (505) 531-0068, [email protected]
“We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 16 organizations which offer 68 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.”