Do I have to pay for Medicare Part A?
Most people don’t have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A. If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters), you qualify for what’s called premium-free Part A. But if you don’t meet that requirement, you may need to buy it. In 2026, the monthly […]
Getting Started with Medicare – 5 tips for using Medicare
1. Create your secure Medicare account to access your information anytime. You can also: – Add your prescriptions to help you better compare health and drug plans in your area. – View your Original Medicare claims as soon as they’re processed. – Print a copy of your official Medicare card. – Review a list of […]
What is the Welcome to Medicare Package?
The Welcome to Medicare package is an informational packet sent to people who are automatically enrolled in Medicare when they become eligible at age 65. This automatic enrollment happens if you’re already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when you turn 65. The package includes your Medicare card, an introductory letter, and a […]
How to appeal and avoid Medicare premium surcharges
Around seven percent of people with Part B pay a special Medicare monthly surcharge that can dramatically increase their premiums. The surcharge is known as an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount or IRMAA. IRMAA is Medicare’s extra fee for high-income beneficiaries, enacted by Congress in 2003 and expanded in 2011. The IRMAA surcharge is based on […]
What Medicare Benefits are available for people with Disabilities?
People under 65 with disabilities are eligible for Medicare. People eligible for Social Security Disability benefits must have received benefits for at least 24 months or suffer from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The waiting period for Social Security Disability benefits begins five months after a beneficiary is determined to […]
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Additional Medicare Tax was added in 2013. Additional Medicare Tax rates are 0.9 percent and apply to highly compensated workers. Individuals are liable for Additional Medicare Tax if their wages, compensation, or self-employment income (together with their spouse’s income if filing a joint return) exceed […]