Medicaid FAQ

medicaid information

  • If you’re on Social Security, you will automatically enroll in Medicare at age 65. If you are not receiving your Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you will need to apply for Medicare benefits three months before you turn 65. Call or visit your local Social Security office, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

  • Description text goes hereThe size of the employer determines whether you may be able to delay Part A and Part B without having to pay a penalty if you enroll later. Many people turning 65 who have employer coverage through an employer or spouse often choose to still enroll in Medicare Part A at 65 as it’s usually premium-free. Part B is different. Unlike Part A, Medicare Part B has a monthly premium, which can cost $148.50 to $504.90 depending on income.

    Job-based insurance is primary if it is from an employer with 20+ employees. Medicare is secondary in this case, and some people choose not to enroll in Part B because of the additional monthly premium.

    Job-based insurance is secondary if it is from an employer with fewer than 20 employees. Medicare is primary in this case, and if you delay Medicare enrollment, your job-based insurance may provide little or no coverage. You should enroll in Part A and Part B.

  • No, Medicare cannot drop you. But, if you don’t pay the premium on a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, they can drop you. Also, if you don’t pay your Part D premium, the drug plan can drop you. Usually, they give multiple notices before the plan terminates your policy.

  • It is not possible for a person to have both Medicare Advantage and Medigap. The two plans do not work together. An individual may use Medigap to help pay original Medicare copayment, deductible, and coinsurance costs, but they may not use it to pay Medicare Advantage’s out-of-pocket expenses.

    If someone has a Medicare Advantage plan, it is against the law for a company to sell them a Medigap plan unless they intend to switch to original Medicare.

  • Some individuals qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and when this happens, it usually means they don’t have any out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

    Beneficiaries with Medicare and Medicaid are known as dual eligibles. Dual eligibles receive full Medicaid benefits. The federal government oversees Medicare eligibility and states oversee Medicaid eligibility. When dual-eligible beneficiaries have healthcare expenses, Medicare pays first and Medicaid pays last.