Medicare
is a Federal health insurance program for people age
65 or older and certain disabled people. There are
two parts to the Medicare program. One part is Hospital
Insurance (also called Part A) and the other part
is Medical Insurance (also called Part B).
Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital
care, inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility
following a hospital stay, home health care and hospice
care. You do not pay a premium for Part A coverage.
Medicare Part B helps pay for doctors' services,
outpatient hospital care, diagnostic tests, durable
medical equipment, ambulance services and many other
health services and supplies that are not covered
by Medicare Part A. If you are receiving a monthly
payment from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB),
your premium will be deducted from that monthly payment.
If you are not receiving a monthly payment or if your
monthly payment is not large enough to cover the premium,
you will be billed for the premium. If you wish to
terminate your Part B coverage, advise the RRB in
writing.
You are eligible for Medicare if you are age 65
or over and receive or could receive a monthly railroad
retirement annuity. If you are under age 65, you can
get Medicare if you are rated disabled under the Social
Security Act and have received a monthly railroad
retirement annuity for 24 months. If you receive monthly
payments, you will automatically be enrolled for Medicare
at the appropriate time. If you are not receiving
a monthly payment, contact
the RRB about filing for Medicare.
If you decline Part B coverage when you are first
eligible or terminate your Part B coverage, you will
not have another chance to enroll until the next general
enrollment period, unless you qualify for a special
enrollment period. You may also be charged a penalty
for late enrollment unless you are covered under an
employer group health plan.
If you are under age 65 and you are receiving a
monthly payment which is not based on disability and
you become disabled, contact
the RRB about filing for disability Medicare.
For more information about Medicare call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, for automated options,
or browse our Medicare
Publications.
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