Medicare Enrollment 2020

The various medical plans sold by Medicare and private insurance companies all come with different enrollment requirements. Medicare enrollment for 2020 might be a bit different from previous years, as Medicare is always tweaking its rules. You will want to know exactly what is required of you before you try to apply for one of these plans, and we can help with that. Read on to find out the enrollment requirements for each major type of Medicare plan.

Enrollment for Original Medicare

The basic Medicare plan is one that the majority of seniors will choose. Or they may even be automatically enrolled in the plan. Medicare requires that anyone who wants to apply for a basic Medicare plan be at least 65 years old, unless they are on disability or have one of a few different qualifying health conditions. In those cases, they can sign up for Medicare before they are 65 years old.

You also need to be a US citizen or a permanent resident of five or more consecutive years.

Not everyone will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare. If you were not, then you can choose to enroll by getting in touch with Medicare or with Social Security. Original Medicare is going to cover you for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, which take care of many common, necessary medical expenses.

Enrollment for Medicare Supplements

Supplement plans are designed to work with Original Medicare, increasing its coverage and letting you choose what you get covered for. There are eight of these to pick from, and they cover a range of different medical expenses known as supplementary costs. They can cover you for expenses like copayments, excess charges, deductibles, coinsurance, blood used during medical operations and foreign medical transport.

Supplement plans are sold by private insurers, and they follow similar enrollment guidelines to Original Medicare. The Supplement plans are similar enough to one another that you can only sign up for one at a time, and you cannot enroll with one of these plans while you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a plan from your employer or union, in most cases.

You can sign up around your 65^th birthday, and the best time to apply is anywhere from three months before your 65^th birthday up to three months after that milestone. You will need to have an Original Medicare plan in order to sign up for a Supplement plan, since these two are closely linked.

Once you have at least Medicare Part B, you can an enroll in supplemental coverage and start being covered by that kind of plan. If you sign up during the window we told you about, you get guaranteed approval and the best possible rates, where your pre existing medical conditions do not come into play.

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage is another type of Medicare plan that is sold by private insurance companies. The Medicare enrollment for 2020 for these plans will run from October the 15^th until December the 7^th. This is for the 2020 period, and you can sign up later this year. The coverage will start on January 1^st. This enrollment period rolls around each year, and there is no fee or penalty for choosing to wait another year to get it. That’s because many seniors won’t need Advantage plans and their impressive coverage as soon as they turn 65, but later on they might benefit from that coverage.

Advantage plans cover you for almost the entirety of Medicare parts A and B, as well as for emergency medical services and urgently needed care. They can also cover you for routine checkups and for prescription drug plans.

With any Medicare plan that is sold privately, such as Advantage plans and Supplement plans, you can save money by sourcing your quotes and comparing those quotes here on our website. We can help you see what many different insurance companies charge for these plans, and that will help you to save money and to find a deal that you can feel good about.

Advantage plans are only compatible with Original Medicare and Medicare Part D plans. However, since many Advantage plans already include Part D in their coverage, trying to buy a separate Part D plan on top of that will be redundant and unnecessary.

Enrollment in Medicare Part D

Medicare has also created a prescription drug plan called Medicare Part D. This will cover you for generic drugs and prescription drugs. Each insurance company that sells these plans will have their own version, covering different drugs for different amounts.

If you have Original Medicare, then you probably already qualify for Part D coverage. You can sign up for this Part D plan as soon as you have at least Medicare Part B and if you are 65. As soon as you meet both of those condition, you will be eligible for this coverage plan. This is a privately sold plan, so the rates will vary, and you should use our site to see what the rates are.

We Can Help

We understand that there is a lot to Medicare enrollment, and you might not understand all of it. That’s okay, as we are here to help you. Just contact us if you have any questions, if you want to find out what your eligibility is or if you are ensure of the enrollment process or periods. Our team of Medicare experts can assist you and get you the answers you need.

The rules for Medicare enrollment in 2020 are very similar to what they were in 2019, but they can change every so often. You can keep up to date with all coverage, pricing and regulation changes here on our site. We update the information on a regular basis to keep our visitors informed. We want you to get a plan that you feel good about at a rate that you can afford, so keep checking back with us to find out what you need in order to make your coverage decision.