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Can I Sign Up for Medicare and Not Social Security?
Just the essentials...
You can sign up for Medicare and not Social Security benefits if you are three full months from your 65th birthday or older
People who aren’t ready to stop working can sign up for part B Medicare and delay applying for Social Security via your local Social Security office. Contact your local Social Security office today for more information.
If you apply for Medicare without drawing Social Security, you will have to keep up with your Medicare Part B premiums using another payment method
The Social Security Administration indicates that you can sign up for Part B Medicare benefits and not benefits from Social Security if you are three months from your 65th birthday or older (this is known as your Medicare effective date).
Many people in the U.S. choose this option because they are not ready to fully stop working, even if they are receiving disability benefits or are eligible for the railroad retirement board.
Waiting until later to apply for Social Security benefits can increase the amount of monthly Social Security income you will receive once you claim it.
Additionally, Medicare Part B coverage requires you to pay a monthly premium.
Individuals who are semi-retired or fully retired and receive some or all of their Social Security benefits will pay their Medicare Part B monthly premium through a monthly deduction from their Social Security benefits. You will still receive a Medicare card.
Keep in mind that if you do apply for Medicare and not Social Security, you must pay your Part B premium using a method you set up yourself, like withdrawal from a bank account.
According to Medicare.gov, the standard Part B premium amount in 2021 is $148.50.
Here are some important highlights regarding premiums and deductibles if you plan on signing up for Medicare and not Social Security:
In 2021, your Part B premium may be different if you are enrolling for the first time.
In 2021, your deductible for Part B is $203 per year. Once the deductible is met, you are responsible for 20 percent of Medicare-approved costs for outpatient therapy, doctor services and medical equipment.
As of a tax return from 2 years ago (2019), income levels greater than $88,000 for individuals and $176,000 for couples filing joint tax returns will pay more than the standard $148.50 Part B premium.
Medicare Parts A and B
Original Medicare Part A covers hospital care, including emergency services, skilled nursing facility care, in-home care, home health services, and hospice.
Part A does not typically require a monthly premium, depending on your work and tax history.
If you are concerned what health services Medicare Part A covers, Medicare.gov recommends that you ask your doctor why you need specific health services during your hospital stay and if Medicare covers the cost of those services.
Original Medicare Part B coverage includes the cost of doctor’s services that includes preventive care, outpatient services, lab tests, x-rays, and mental health care.
You must pay a monthly premium for Part B, and it only covers 80 percent of your health-related costs.
Custodial care (help bathing, dressing, or doing laundry)
Most dental care
Eye exams and prescription glasses
Cosmetic surgery
Dentures
Hearing exams and hearing aids
Some Basics of Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans
Supplemental plans fill the gap in medical expenses that Original Medicare does not fully cover.
For example, if you need care for a medical condition, Medicare Part B only covers 80 percent of those costs, and you are on the hook for the remaining 20 percent.
Using a supplemental plan, you can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs that can add up from medical care, including copayments, deductibles and coinsurance.
Private insurance companies offer supplemental plans, also known as Medigap.
You must pay a monthly premium for a supplemental plan, so it is imperative that you shop by comparison when you are searching for one.
Just like traditional health care, you should never decide on the first insurance company that you see.
This is especially true here, because Medigap plans are standardized into types, and plans of the same type offer the exact same coverage, no matter the private carrier.
In other words, the only difference between Medicare supplements plans of the same type is the monthly premium charged by the carrier.
There are several Medicare-approved private insurance companies that offer quality supplemental plans.
The cost of your monthly premium and the portion of your medical expenses a supplemental plan will cover are at stake, so thoroughly comparison shop private insurance companies offering supplemental plans.
Medicare and Social Security
If you apply for Medicare only and wish to delay your Social Security benefits, there is no penalty in terms of how much coverage you will receive from Medicare.
