Enrolling in Medicare
 

I will be Medicare eligible this year and I live mostly in the Uk now and part time in the USA. I get social security benefits. Will I automatically be enrolled or will I have to send for enrollment forms. Is there anyone on the forum that lives in both countries and who is on Medicare?

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

Yup I’m in that position, I spend six or seven months each year in the UK and five months or so in the US. I have Medicare Pt. A and I pay for Medicare Pt. B out of my monthly SS payment. I also have a Medicare Advantage plan for which I pay no further premium. I’m pretty sure the SS and Medicare don’t know I live abroad though! They certainly didn’t when I signed up, five years ago. At that time I got Pt A and Pt. B by default, which I believe is the normal situation for folks when they reach age 65. (I get my SS deposited in my US bank, and the only address they have is my US address.)

So, not sure if this’ll apply to you also. Does the SS know you live abroad? It might be that if you live abroad, you have to give them specific instructions about your Medicare coverage.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

Hi thank you for replying. Yes they do have my address in the Uk. But my survivors benefits go into my US bank. I don’t know wether they will automatically enroll me or not, I may have to call them and see how they do it. I know that you have to pay part B out of your benefits. I already have something to pay my copays.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

My Medicare premium wasn’t deducted from social security when I signed up, but even if it is going to be, I’m pretty sure you must submit the paperwork. You can submit online three months prior to the date you become eligible for Medicare.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

As per this: https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-cha...-with-medicare

Those who are not receiving social security need to apply. Those who are receiving social security should get a "Welcome" pack three months before becoming 65.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

Thanks for the correction, I obviously did it all back to front!

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

It’s bad isn’t it - when commencing SS benefits, and Medicare, is so far in the past, you have only fragmentary memories of how you did it!

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

LOL -- I know how I did it, but I didn't take SS until five years later, so I gather that changes the process!

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

Thank you for that link. I get survivors benefits which is my husbands social security so should I still apply 3 months before my birthday or do you think social security will automatically enroll me?

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

I was 66 + and still working and had private heathcare and not receiving SS benefits yet. I never received a packet when I reached 65 nor was I automatically enrolled. When I finally decided to retire, I called them to advise them of my pending retirement. They said I had to enroll in Medicare and should have done so long ago as I was over 65. They enrolled me effective three months prior to my retirement date.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

Thank you so much for the link. Now I know what I have to do. It said that because I am receiving survivors benefits they will send me a welcome package in the mail then I will apply for part B. Thank you.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

I read an article in the New York Times today about older people choosing to retire abroad. It recommended a site called medicareinteractive.org for information about dealing with heath insurance issues while living overseas, and I thought it might be a resource of interest to the good folks on BE;

Medicare and Living Abroad

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

I've just reached the age of 65, lived in Florida as a dual national for the past 17 years. Quick chat with my local social security office and they enrolled me in part A and part B which came at a cost of around $144 per month. The lady said this will be billed every 3 months. I've just recently received my Medicare card/number in the mail. I/m sure I read somewhere that if I didn't sign up in the 3 month window there would be a penalty fee for late enrollment.

Re: Enrolling in Medicare
 

Which is entirely consistent with the link I gave.