Enrolling in Medicare
If you have what you need – and know when to enroll – it will help you avoid any penalties or gaps in health care coverage.
- You can enroll in Medicare by signing up online at: www.ssa.gov, calling toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or in person at any Social Security office. Find your local office by zip code.
- You’ll need an approved form of ID, and some personal to get started.
- Print out this checklist from the Social Security Administration to make sure you have exactly what you need.
Important Dates to Know:
Your Personal Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) – This is the period during which you can enroll in Medicare for the first time. It is unique to the month you turn 65. It is a 7-month period:
- The three months before your 65th birthday month
- Your birthday month
- The three months after your 65th birthday month
For example, if you were born in June, your window to enroll is March 1 through September 30.
Annual Enrollment Period – This is the period set by HCSC. If you have multiple plan options, the Annual Enrollment Period gives you the chance to switch to a different Medicare plan for the following year. Because your health care and/or financial needs may change from year to year, the Annual Enrollment Period is a good time to review your options. That way, you can make sure the coverage you have it still the coverage that works best for you.
If you decide to leave your HCSC retirement plan, you will not be able to rejoin a plan at a future date. Please contact HCSC Employee Services for more information.
Special Enrollment Period – If you do not enroll during your IEP, special circumstances including late retirement allow you to sign up for Part A and/or B during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). To learn more about SEP’s refer to your Medicare & You handbook or go to www.medicare.gov.
Getting Started
BCBSIL contracts with Medicare to offer plans that give you more coverage than Original Medicare. These plans may include some of the benefits you currently have through HCSC’s health coverage. And they often include benefits not offered by Medicare Part A and Part B.
Retiree Group Medicare plans are often the best option. Here’s why:
- Your costs can be lower because – like your HCSC plan –HCSC contributes funds.
- If eligible, your spouse may choose coverage under your employer-sponsored plan as well.
- There’s no need to “shop” for a plan; all the work has been done by your benefit administrator.
Important: If you do not enroll in the HCSC group coverage when first eligible, you will not be able to do so at a later time.