Medicare

Who is eligible for Medicare?

Below is a list of individuals that may be eligible for Medicare:

• People age 65 or older,
• People under age 65 with certain disabilities, and
• People of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant)

What does Medicare cover?

Medicare has three coverage options:

Part A Hospital Insurance - Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. Beneficiaries must meet certain conditions to get these benefits.

Part B Medical Insurance - Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctors' services and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.

Part D Prescription Drug Coverage - Everyone with Medicare can get this coverage to help lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future. Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage is insurance. Private companies provide the coverage. Beneficiaries choose the drug plan and pay a monthly premium. Like other insurance, if a beneficiary decides not to enroll in a drug plan when they are first eligible, they may pay a penalty if they choose to join later.

How do I enroll in Medicare?

Most people who are eligible for Medicare are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. To find out how to enroll in Medicare Part B and Part D, visit www.medicare.gov and click on My Medicare Enrollment.

When can I enroll in Medicare?

If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B and/or Part D Prescription Drug Coverage when you first became eligible, you may be able to sign up during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from January 1 through March 31 of each year. Waiting until the General Enrollment Period could result in a premium increase except in special cases. A special case would be if you didn’t enroll in Medicare Part B and/or Part D Prescription Drug Coverage when you were first eligible because you or your spouse were actively employed and had group health plan coverage through your or your spouse’s employer.

For more Medicare enrollment and eligibility information visit www.medicare.gov and click on General Enrollment and Eligibility.

How much does Medicare cost?

Because most people who are eligible for Medicare are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they become eligible they don't have to pay a premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. However, there are some people who are eligible for Medicare who have to pay premiums for Medicare Part A.

Medicare Part B and the Part D Prescription Drug Coverage are both voluntary and require a monthly premium to be paid.

To get premium and cost information visit www.medicare.gov and click on Premium & Cost Information located on the General Enrollment and Eligibility page.

What happens when I become eligible for Medicare while still employed at Costco?

If you or an enrolled family member is eligible for both health care coverage under the Costco Program (because of current employment) and for Medicare (because of being age 65 or older or because of a disability), Costco’s Program coverage is primary for you and for your family members. Medicare is secondary.

If you or an enrolled family member is eligible for both health care coverage under the Costco Program (because of current employment) and for Medicare (because of end-stage renal disease), Costco’s Program will be primary and Medicare will be secondary for 30 months starting the earlier of the month in which Medicare end-stage renal disease begins, or the first month in which you or your dependent receive a kidney transplant.

You can view the Who Pays First Guide or the Summary Plan Description to get more information on how Medicare works with other kinds of insurance or coverage and who should pay your bills first.

What happens when I have Medicare and I’m no longer employed at Costco?

If you or an enrolled family member is eligible for Medicare before your employment ends with Costco, you will be given the option to continue coverage under the Costco Program through COBRA when your employment terminates. If you elect to continue coverage through COBRA, Medicare will be primary and your COBRA coverage will be secondary.

Continuation of coverage through COBRA will terminate if you or a family member becomes entitled to Medicare after electing to continue coverage through COBRA.

You can view the Who Pays First Guide or the Summary Plan Description to get more information on how Medicare works with other kinds of insurance or coverage and who should pay your bills first.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about Medicare?

To get more information about Medicare read the Welcome to Medicare Guide, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

You can also view the Who Pays First Guide to get more information on how Medicare works with other kinds of insurance or coverage and who should pay your bills first.