At Boomer Benefits, we get thousands of questions every year from Medicare beneficiaries just like you. We see common Medicare mistakes that beneficiaries regularly make by not having all of the information straight.
We put together this short video series to help you learn the rules and bypass late penalties. Each video is short – less than 3 and a half minutes so you can learn them all in less than half an hour.
1: Delayed Start Date Based on Enrollment Date
Medicare has several enrollment periods every year, which can be confusing. However, your Initial Enrollment Period is the most important one. There can be consequences if a beneficiary doesn’t enroll within their allotted window and has no other coverage.
In this video, we explain what your Initial Enrollment Period is like when you age into Medicare. We will also explain how your effective date for Medicare will change depending on when you choose to enroll within your Initial Enrollment Period.
2: COBRA is Not Creditable Coverage for Delayed Medicare
Medicare can be confusing enough, but then when you throw COBRA into the mix, it brings up even more questions for beneficiaries. COBRA is coverage that you may qualify for after losing employer coverage from a large employer.
In this video, we explain how your Medicare enrollment can be affected by COBRA, which is not creditable coverage for delaying Medicare. It is important to know how Medicare works with COBRA, so you can avoid a lifetime late penalty for accidentally enrolling late into Parts B and D..
3: Medicare is Primary for Employees of Small Companies
If you work for a small employer with 20 employees or less, you may not realize that Medicare is going to be your primary coverage. Learning how Medicare coordinates with small employer coverage can potentially save you thousands of dollars.
In this video, we will discuss the rules Medicare expects you to follow when working for a small employer. What happens when you fail to enroll in Medicare at the right time? We will explain. At the end of the video, we also give you an additional tip that can help you decide whether to have Medicare coordinate with employer coverage.
4: Part B Deductible and When to Pay it
Medicare is confusing for everyone, even for doctor office staff. Knowing how healthcare providers are supposed to bill Medicare will eliminate possible complications with your doctor’s office. It’s important that you know when it’s your turn to pay.
In this video, you will learn when you should pay your Part B deductible to ensure that it gets applied correctly to the right Medicare claim.
5: The Annual Election Period Does Not Apply to Medigap
The enrollment periods with Medicare can get confusing. That’s why we want to explain how Medigap’s open enrollment period is different than others.
If Medigap is the coverage that you decide you would want to have in the event of a major health condition, this video is really important for you. You won’t want to miss your one-time window to get a Medigap plan without health questions.
Have you made a Medicare mistake? Tell us about it in the comments below, and we’ll consider making a video about it for our Youtube Channel.
If you’d like to avoid Medicare mistakes altogether right from the get-go, contact us to get free guidance about how Medicare works and what your supplemental plan options are.
