Activating Medicare B when COB Ends

[Guest guest]

If a patient has group health plan

coverage and Medicare A & chooses not to select B until needed for COB,

does he/she need to apply for B in the Jan-March enrollment period (to be effective

in July) or would the special enrollment period for Medicare B apply, as

described below, thus enabling them to sign up for B at any point with no

penalty? Your help greatly appreciated!

When a

Special Enrollment Period Can Occur

If you didn’t

take Medicare Part B when you were first eligible because you or your spouse

were working and had group health plan coverage through your or your

spouse’s employer or union, you can sign up for Medicare Part B during a Special Enrollment Period. You can sign up:

Anytime you are still covered by the employer

or union group health plan through your or your spouse’s current or active employment, or

During the 8 months following the month the

employer or union group health plan coverage ends, or when the employment ends

(whichever is first).

If you are disabled and

working (or you have coverage from a working family member), the Special

Enrollment Period rules also apply

Thanks!

Daryl Battin, LICSW

Financial

Coordinator/Social Worker

Lahey Clinic -- Kidney

Transplant

41 Mall Road

Burlington, MA 01805

Phone: /

FAX:

See our web page at http://www.lahey.org for a full directory of Lahey sites, staff, services and career opportunities.

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