Representatives from the Ulster County Office of Aging will be here to discuss changes in Medicare for the upcoming year and to help you make sense of it all. Please call 845-340-3456 to make an appointment.
Here is an amazing bit of inside information that the Phoenicia Library offered in its latest newsletter about Medicare:
Things we've learned about Medicare watching library patrons and Peggy from the Ulster County Office of the Aging work together:
Generally, you're first allowed to sign up for Medicare starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. Otherwise penalties will occur. Yes, there are exceptions, but most Americans opt for Medicare as their health insurance at 65. We aren't automatically signed up for Medicare at 65, unless we are already on other benefits (early Social Security, Medicaid, SSD/SSI, etc.)
If you are going to opt for Medicare at 65, 3 months before your 65th birthday is when you should get the Medicare sign up process going. Try not to wait for your actual 65th birthday! There are sometimes bureaucratic delays and you don't want a gap in coverage.
Create your Online Social Security Account NOW right here. An online account is required in order to get Medicare and to preview your Social Security benefits for retirement. Do this well before your 65th birthday because, again, sometimes there are delays as the government verifies your identity and you want to it have resolved prior to signing up for Medicare 3 months before your 65th birthday.
Get trained advice. Office for the Aging (OFA) in Kingston has certified, impartial volunteers to explain your Medicare options for free. In addition, Peggy from OFA visits Phoenicia Library and many other area libraries to offer 1:1 help to sign up or to change your coverage. Every fall, you can change your supplemental plan or your Part D (drug) plan.
Check out the Medicare website right here. It's fairly clear, is the absolute word on what's what, and has lots of smiling seniors on its welcome pages.