Ask Larry

Medicare

Will My Domestic Partner Qualify For An SEP Based On Coverage Under My Employer's Plan?

My domestic partner "Linda" (we are not married) is preparing to file for SEP Medicare Part B (Linda is moving to another state outside the coverage of her current health insurance plan). Linda is 66 and disabled, and at age 61 was auto-enrolled in Medicare (when she qualified for disability), and she eventually got the Part-A only Medicare card after proving health care coverage through my employment. She will have the Request for Employment Information Form 0938-0787 from my employer showing continuous coverage since 2009.

Posted: 
Friday, May 12, 2017 - 12:55

Would Applying For Medicare Prevent My Wife From Later Filing A Restricted Application For Spousal Benefits Only?

My wife is turning 65 in April, 2017. She is still working for an employer with over 20 employees, is covered by a good group health plan, but figures she should sign up for the free Medicare Part A coverage, obviously under her own account.

Posted: 
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 - 07:00

Will My Medicare Premiums Be Automatically Deducted From My Benefits?

I will soon turn 66 and plan to file a restricted application for benefits on my 74 year old husband's work record. Will my Medicare premium be automatically deducted from the social security check, or will Medicare send me premium bills? With regard to paying Medicare premium bills, what is the safest method--personal check, money order, credit card, on-line bill pay through my bank, or having Medicare deduct the premium electronically from my checking account? Which is the best way to ensure that the payment is likely to be received and recorded timely?

Posted: 
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 - 15:00

Shouldn't I Be Held Harmless With Regard To My Part B Premium?

Hi Larry,

I started medicare part B on November 1, 2013 with the premium taken out of my SS benefit payment. MY part B premium for
2014 and 2015 was about $104.90. The part B premium for 2016 was $170.50 due to income above $170,000. For 2017
I submitted SSA-44 and my premium was reduce from $187.50 to $131. ("$134.00 for the standard Medical Premium minus
$3.00 for the reduction in your standard monthly premium") Shouldn't my Part B premium be $109 due to the hold harmless provision?

Thank You,
Bill

Hi Bill,

Posted: 
Friday, March 3, 2017 - 06:15

Can My Husband Get Medicare Coverage If He's Not A U.S. Citizen?

Our family got our green card in 1992. In 2000 my husband got a very good job overseas and gave up his green card. He had 32 Social Security credits at that time. Our children and I stayed on here. He has now 69 years old, retired, and wishes to come back to the US.
Question:
Will he get Medicare benefits (I know he will have to pay for Part A till he can make up 40 points) when he gets his green card? Or will he have to wait 5 years to get Medicare? Does the clock pick up from the year 2000 when he left, or does it start afresh? Very confused.

Posted: 
Friday, March 3, 2017 - 06:00

Can My Wife Get Medicare Coverage Based On My Record?

I AM 66 AND DRAWING SOCIAL SECURITY AND ON MEDICARE A&B. My spouse is turning 65 next month. She still works but will only have 36 Quarters of work credit by the end of the year-2017. May she apply now to obtain Medicare on my account? I was told she would also have to apply for Social Security benefits under my account in order to get the Medicare. Is this true? Last, if she gets medicare now under my account will she be able to collect Social Security under her own account in 2018 when she has 40 Quarters of credit herself? Thanks

Hi,

Posted: 
Thursday, March 2, 2017 - 07:30

Was Social Security Correct To Raise The Rate Of My Medicare Premiums?

i was not 66 age of retirement.nor had i apply in social security system.2014 I took a large amount of funds out of retirement I was hit for tax for doing so and file on my 2015 Taxes.
I file for a hardship yes in2014, I had to start paying into Medicare in july monthly payment for 6 month thin after i started drawing social security and payment for medicare was taken out of my social security,But I had to pay for July out of pocket.I got my july check for August.

Posted: 
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - 07:00

Will I Have To Pay For Part A Of Medicare?

I just started receiving my ex-husband's Social Security widow death benefit. Because it bumped up my income, I lost my DPW Medical Assistance because I know longer qualified. Will I also now have to pay for Medicare Part A in addition to buying a supplement to replace M.A.? It was my understanding that Part A is a government- covered program and that I would only have to buy Part B -- the supplemental per cent that Medicare Part A does not pay. Can you clear this up for me?

Hi,

Posted: 
Sunday, February 26, 2017 - 08:00
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