Choosing the right Medicare plan can be confusing, and it's difficult to decipher all the language written into these plans and options. Medicare mistakes to avoid include missing your initial enrollment period, signing up for the wrong coverage, not paying your premiums, and assuming your spouse is covered.

As the nation’s health care program for citizens aged 65 and older, Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D cover many major medical expenses for participants.Here are some potential mistakes to avoid when you choose your plan so you end up with the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:coverage you need.

Missing the Medicare Deadline

Not signing up at the right time is one of the biggest Medicare mistakes you can make. If you receive 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Social Security when you turn 65, you don't have to do anything. You're automatically enrolled in the program, and the premiums are deducted from your monthly benefits. But if you're not in this category, you must take action.

Medicare Initial Enrollment Period

If you aren't already taking Social Security, you must sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B when you turn 65. This Medicare Initial Enrollment Period:

• Starts three months before the month you turn 65
• Includes the month you turn 65
• Ends three months after the month you turn 65

So, if you turn 65 in September, you h🅷ave between June and Dece🦩mber to enroll.

Signing Up for Medicare Part A

In general, enroll in Medicare Part A during this Initial Enrollment Period even if you have 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:health insurance through an employer. That's because most people pay Medicare taxes throughout their working years and, therefore, won't have to pay for Medicare Part A. Of co🍬urse, if you have to pay a premium, you may opt to delay.

Signing Up for Medicare Part B

Most people need to enroll in Medicare Part B during the Initial Enrollment Period. The only way to delay Medicare Part B is if you have health insurance from your (or your spouse's) current employer. Everyone pays a premium for Medicare Part B. How much you pay depends on your income and when you enroll.

Paying a Medicare Penalty

If you don't enroll in Part A and Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period, you must wait to sign up until the next Open Enrollment Period, which can cause a gap in your medical coverage. You may also owe a lifetime late enrollment penalty that increases the longer you wait to sign up.

The Part A penalty is 10% of the monthly premium, and you'll pay this higher premium for twice the number of years you delayed signing up. The Part B ate-enrollment penalty lasts for as long as you have Medicare. The penalty can go up 10% for every 12-month period you were eligible for Medicare Part B but didn't sign up.

Assuming Your Spouse Qualifies for Medicare

Assuming that your spouse is covered just because you signed up for Medicare is a big mistake. Medicare coverage doesn't work like employer-based coverage and doesn't cover the entire family. Medicare only applies to the individual. So, if you're the only one turning 65, your spouse must find coverage elsewhere—perhaps through an employer, a COBRA plan, or a policy sold on the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Health Insurance Marketplace.

However, your spouse will qualify for Medicare Part A when reaching age 65, even if never employed, if you have paid your dues in the workforce for at least 10 years.

A spouse not yet 65 may also qualify for Medicare under certain conditions: If receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months; coping with an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Not Having the Right Medicare Coverage

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Not having the right🦄 Medꦕicare coverage is another potentially costly mistake. While Medicare Part A is usually free, Parts B, C, and D all require a monthly premium and appear optional—but are critical for your health. In addition, Original Medicare doesn't offe🗹r you complete coverage for 🍌both expenses and services.

Medicare Part B

Most people should probably get at least Part B so that they have coverage for doctor visits and outpatient care. The standard premium for Part B coverage is $185, up from $174.70 for 2024, which is deducted from your monthly Social Security benefit. There's also an annual deductible of $257, up from $240 for 2024, for Part B coverage.

Medicare Part C

Medicare Part C is also called a Medicare Advantage Plan. Private companies that contract with Medicare offer these plans to p♔rovide all your Part A and Part B benefits. Most Medicare Advantage Plans include Part D (prescription drug) coverage, as well as extra benefits for vision, hearing, and dental.

The average premium for this type of coverage was expected to be about $18.50 per month in 2024, but costs vary. If you're considering a Part C plan, you should be careful to research the available policies to ensure you acquire the best Medicare Advantage plan to suit your needs.

Medicare Part D

Every plan that offers prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D must provide a minimum standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Since plans can vary the list of prescription drugs they cover and how they place drugs into different tiers, it's essential to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:find a plan that covers the medications you usually take. The projected average monthly premium for a Medicare Part D plan in 2024 was $55.50.

Gaps in Coverage

Original Medicare doesn't cover vision, dental, or hearing services, which are necessary as we age. To cover these gaps, you can purchase plans on the open market or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that wraps coverage into the plan.

Original Medicare also doesn't cover all costs of care. To help pay your expenses, a Medigap plan can be purchased. You'll pay a monthly premium for the Medigap plan you choose.

Not Paying Your Premiums

Many people don't have enough money in their retirement nest eggs, meaning they'll rely heavily on their Social Security checks to pay their monthly expenses.

Remember that your monthly premiums are deducted from your benefits, which lowers the amount you receive each month. According to the Social Security Administration, the maximum benefit people received at the full retirement age of 67 was $4,043 in 2025.

If your income is so low that you can't afford premiums, your state or local social services may have programs if you qualify. If you're eligible for any of the four different Medicare Savings programs available, you may receive help paying for your premiums.

Other Mistakes to Avoid

All of these mistakes are complex matters on their own and reviewing each one in detail willℱ help you understand the Medicare world deeper, allowing you to avoid mistakes that could cost you a significant amount of money or not receive appropriate medical care when you need it.

Other mistakes to avoid include:

• Seeing doctors that are outside of your Medicare Advantage Plan
• Not managing the high-income surcharge
• Delaying your purchase of a Medigap policy
  
• Not comprehending your out-of-pocket costs in a worst-case scenario
• Automatically renewing your plan without reviewing what suits you as time goes on
• Not seeking Medicare financial help if you need it
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Bottom Line

Medicare is a complex program that has many parts and options to choose from. Spend time learning about its intricacies so your medical health is covered in retirement without spending too much out of pocket. Don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance from a qualified financial advisor trained specifically in Medicare.