I thought I signed up for both Part A and B when I got my Social Security, but now I'm getting bills for Part B. Did I miss something during the enrollment period?
Answered by 13 licensed agents
Yup. If you don't speak to an experienced and honest agent, you won't know what your monthly payments will be. For example, there is a premium for the Part B, for the Part B one-time per year deductible, possibly a Medigap plan along with a Part D(rug) plan. If you want better coverage for the more expensive Dental, Vision & Hearing procedures, that can also be an extra cost per month. Sounds like you tried to get around using an agent whereas YOU are not paying for the agent's commission since the firm you chose pay the agents!
Part B has a deductible each year (increases a little each year-2025 is $257) and a 20% co-pay WITHOUT a maximum out of pocket! Have you looked into either a Medicare Supplement/Medigap OR Medicare Advantage Plan that can help with the Part B "out of pocket costs"?
Couple things come to mind. 1) what age did you sign up for Part A and B?
2) If you’re drawing social security you shouldn’t be getting a bill for Part B, they would deduct it from your social security check. 3) if you had insurance at work when you signed up for Part B, you can tell them you had creditable coverage and therefore no penalty.
You need to call social security and ask them why your getting billed to clear this up.
Part B always has a monthly premium unless you signed up for an MAPD plan that pays part or all of that premium for you. These plans are not available in every zip code, so it's important to engage with a broker who cares and will guide you to the right decision.
Part A is usually covered by the years you paid into the system and fo most people has o premium. PART B has a premium that is based on your prior two years of income. There are circumstances where you may receive assistance, such as Medicaid whereby the State would pay your PART B premium.
Both PART A AND PART B are required to obtain Health Care Plans.
Medicare part B has a monthly premium of $185 a month. If you’re collecting Social Security benefits, you can have this withheld directly from your Social Security check on a monthly basis. If you’re being billed for Medicare part B you are typically billed for three months at a time. The bill you receive will state the amount you owe as well as the period you are being billed for. you can contact them directly using the number on your bill if you have questions. I hope this information helps.
Often when you sign up for Social Security people also sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B at the same time. If you sign up for Social Security at Age 66, then you more than likely were issued part A already once you turned age 65. In this situation it appears that more than likely you signed up. A card showing your effective date should have been sent in the mail and as we know, sometimes items get lost in the mail system. Contact Medicare as soon as possible to inquire about the status. There are various options. You could either stop down at the local office, call at: (800) 633-4227 or contact on-line at - https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up/part-b-only . It's very important to inquire about your effective date because you only have a 60-day window to sign up for Part D or a prescription drug plan once your Part B becomes effective. If you fail to sign up within that window of time, Medicare can and will penalize you for the rest of your life.
Nothing was missed in signing up for Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare Part A has no premium because it was paid for from income earned during the workin g life of the insured. In the case of Medicare Part B, no seperate premium was paid for during a person's working life which means that in retirement there is a payment to be made.
Whether you get Part B automatically due to having Social Security prior to 65, or you take Part B after 65, it has a base premium of $185 per month in 2025. That number can go up or down, depending on income, assets, penalties, programs chosen, and more. A knowledgeable broker is an invaluable resource to clear everything up.
