SOSMagJulySeptember2021

Patricia Steinman, MSIG, CSA, Medicare Education Specialist/ OSHIIP Trainer Enrollment into Medicare is automatic if you receive Social Security retirement or Railroad Retirement benefits. If you are not currently receiving these benefits, there are three periods during which you can enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month period. It includes three months before, the month of and three months following your 65th birth month. However, when your coverage starts will depend upon when you sign up during this 7-month window. If you enroll during: Your coverage begins: * The first 3 months of your IEP The 1st of the month of your 65th birthday. * The 4th month of your IEP The following month. * The 5th month of your IEP The 2nd month following month of enrollment. * The 6th and 7th month of your IEP The 3rd month following the month of enrollment. Caution! Understand the effective date of coverage if you are going to leave your current coverage during the three months that follows your 65th birth month. The Special Enrollment Period (SEP) lets you delay enrollment without a penalty if you are covered by a group health plan based on active employer coverage (your own, a spouse, or a family member if you are disabled). You can enroll for Part A and /or Part B anytime, if you are still covered by a group health plan. You can also enroll, as late as, eight months after you lose your coverage or when employment ends, whichever comes first. General Enrollment Period (GEP). If you did not enroll in Medicare when you were first eligible, you can sign up from January 1st to March 31st each year. Your coverage for B will start July 1st of that year. If you sign up during a GEP, you may incur a penalty for late enrollment. Medicare Message: Enrollment Periods Meet Jo Seiler DID YOU KNOW…? Medicare is much different from selecting health insurance through your employer. With Medicare, you are choosing an individual policy. If you are married, you and your spouse are making separate purchasing decisions. Questions? Please contact the SOS Medicare Helpdesk - 419-624-1856 ext 34. We are happy to welcome Jo Seiler, as Serving Our Seniors new co-worker. Her title is Medicare Insurance Advocate – Trainee. She is being trained and mentored by Patricia Stineman, so Serving Our Seniors will eventually have two staff members who are Medicare Education Specialists. With time and training, Jo will eventually counsel complex Medicare cases and train volunteers to become OSHIIP Certified Volunteer Medicare Counselors. Jo Seiler and Patricia Stineman 19