Medicare Part B is another half of Original Medicare, a federal program for health care, commonly referred to as medical insurance. Part B offers coverage for outpatient medical services, including doctor`s office visits, physical therapy, preventive services, outpatient mental health care, durable medical equipment, chemotherapy, flu shots, diabetes screenings, and alcoholism counseling.
In this blog, we will talk about the requirements for eligibility and how to sign up for Medicare Part B in New Jersey.
Medicare Part B Eligibility
Eligibility for Medicare Part B is the same as for Original Medicare, Medicare Part A. The first requirement is that you must be age 65 or older and a U.S. citizen or legal and permanent resident for at least 5 years in a row. You can apply for it if you have been diagnosed with End-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig`s disease). A person under the age of 65 with certain disabilities that receive Social Security disability benefits is also eligible for Medicare Part B.
Medicare Part B Enrollment
If you are eligible for Medicare, then you will probably want to know how to enroll in it. First, let`s talk about ways to apply for Medicare in New Jersey. You can do it online through the Social Security website. You can do it in person at the nearest Social Security office in your city, or you can apply via mail. If a person is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, they will be automatically enrolled in Part B as well. However, because Part B requires payments, it is possible to turn down Part B enrollment.
No matter which way of applying you choose, you cannot do it at any time, but instead at specific enrollment periods. You can do it during the Initial Enrollment Period, General Enrollment Period, or Special Enrollment period.
Initial Enrollment Period
The Initial Enrollment Period happens for each individual around their 65th birthday. This is the time when you are required to enroll in Medicare, or you risk being exposed to a late enrollment penalty fee. This period lasts for seven months, starting 3 months before your 65th birthday, and ending three months after your 65th birthday. During this period it is possible that your enrollment in Medicare Part A will be automatic. If so, then Medicare Part B will also be automatic enrollment. If you miss enrollment during the Initial enrollment period, you will have to wait for General Enrollment Period unless you are eligible for Special Enrollment.
General Enrollment Period
The General Enrollment Period occurs at beginning of every year and is specifically for those who failed to apply during their Initial Enrollment and have not qualified for a Special Enrollment. The General Enrollment Period happens between January 1st and March 31st. If you enroll during General Enrollment Period, your Medicare coverage will become active the month after you submit your application. But keep in mind that you will most probably be charged a late enrollment penalty fee.
Special Enrollment Period
The Special Enrollment period is specially designed for situations when a person failed to enroll in Medicare during their Initial enrollment period but still wants to apply for Medicare Part A lately. The special enrollment period lasts for eight months and it starts in the month after your employee health coverage ends. A special Enrollment period is not available for everyone. It is only for people who are getting coverage through their employer. Besides this, you can qualify for SEP if you are a volunteer serving in a foreign country or if you have TRICARE. A huge advantage if you qualify for Special Enrollment is that a late enrollment penalty will not be applied.
Late enrollment penalty
Medicare Part B’s late enrollment penalty adds 10% of the standard premium rate for each 12-month period (1 year) you went through without signing up for it. This lasts as long as you are enrolled in Part B coverage. The standard premium for Part B in 2023 is $164.90. That makes a $16.5 late enrollment penalty fee per every year not enrolled in Part B.
Medicare Part B Online application in New Jersey
The most convenient way to apply for Medicare Part B coverage in New Jersey is doing it online, through the Social Security webpage. After creating your account on the Social Security internet page, find the blue button “Apply for Medicare”, read “Terms of Service” and check the “I understand and agree” box. On the following page, click on “Start new application” and fill in all asked information. The next step will ask you if you want to apply only for Medicare or if you want to do so for Social Security retirement benefits. Check your options and proceed. The next page will ask you if you want to enroll in Original Medicare – Part A and Part B, or only Part A. Check your options and proceed. Have in mind that you cannot have Part B only without Part A. The final step will be with questions about any health insurance coverage you have had and their duration dates.
What documents do I need for Medicare enrollment?
No matter which way of application you will choose, the documentation that you will need will be the same. Here is the list of documents needed for the Medicare application:
- Original birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Social Security statement or some record of your earnings
- A W-2 or self-employment tax information
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of legal residency if you are not the U.S. citizen
- An alternate identification that proves your age, besides a birth certificate
- A record of your service or discharge papers if you had served in U.S. Military before 1968
If you have more questions, read our blog with Questions and Answers regarding Medicare Part B in New Jersey. Also, if you are interested in enrollment and eligibility for Medicare Part B in Randolph, you can check our blog post here.
Craig W. Hansen is an insurance professional and co-founder of William & Michael Advisor Group LLC and Jersey Insurance Solutions. Craig has served his clients in many facets of the insurance industry, always with the same goal: excellence in service while building solid, long-term, lasting relationships. With over a decade of experience in the insurance benefits industry, Craig’s clients know they can call on him anytime and receive platinum service with a smile.
