Medicare and You

Getting to know how your Medicare works is an important step in planning for your future. No matter where you’re headed in life, Medicare will be part of it, helping to protect your health and wallet.

On January 24, 2019, Ridge Multop AARP volunteer gave an informative presentation helping the attendees from Falls Church Senior Center sponsored by Mary R. Styles Library get to know their Medicare, so they could get the most out of their coverage.  The presentation entitled: Medicare 101: Understanding Your Benefits broke down Medicare’s parts, choices, and deadlines so the group could figure out what works best for them.

Ridge highlighted the 4 parts of Medicare:

• Part A – Hospital/ Inpatient services
• Part B – Doctor/ Outpatient services
• Part D – Prescription drug benefits
• Part C – Medicare Advantage Plans(e.g., HMO’s PPOs – managed care)

Getting Medicare

Ridge shared you are most likely eligible to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65. Some people get it automatically, and some people have to sign up. To qualify for Medicare you or your spouse need to have paid Medicare and Social Security payroll taxes for at least 10 years while working or meet other specific requirements. If you are 65 and don’t have the earnings history, you still may be able to buy Medicare coverage. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

Initial Enrollment

When it comes to signing up for Medicare, timing is everything. Most people are eligible to sign up for Medicare when 65. At that time, you have a seven-month window during which you can first sign up for Medicare:

• During the three months before the month you turn 65
• During the month you turn 65
• During the three months after the month you turn 65

Ridge reminded the audience they have the chance to review their coverage during Medicare’s Open Enrollment period annually from October 15 to December 7.

Audience participation

Elaine Black, one of the attendees and an AARP member was glad to see the new Medicare cards didn’t have her Social Security number on the card anymore. Wanted to make sure she was up to date, felt she had a good understanding. Just wanted to see what new information she could pick up.

“Never too old to learn something” came from Gloria Muman a regular at the Falls Church Senior Center.

Ridge thanked our Sponsor Mary R. Styles Library and Falls Church Senior Center, and concluded the presentation with informing the attendees for more information they could go to Medicare.gov

The next Medicare 101 will be on Thursday, March 28 at the Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane Alexandria, VA 22306. Registration is kindly requested, you can register online by clicking here.