Odd O'blography

It isn't at all obvious, but you can start your Medicare coverage from your SSA account. In addition, your SSA account provides an earnings history that you can verify, and it shows estimated benefits for your financial planning. If you need to correct the earnings history, it's better to do it a year ahead of applying for benefits. And, most importantly, applying online for Medicare, Social Security, or both, is relatively easy. It will save you time and stress versus doing it in person. This is one thing I got right, and I'm glad I did.

My birthday falls on the 28th of May, so I counted back 3 months and started thinking about my application process at the end of February. That was a mistake. It was mid-March when I finally clicked send on my formal application and it turned out that I would actually go on Medicare on the 1st of May. That was barely enough time to grind through the full process. So, count back three months from your birthday and start on the 1st of that month. In my case, I went on Medicare and became responsible for the premiums 1 month earlier than I had expected.

Fortunately, I didn't have any problems with my application. The Medicare approval process moved along at a reasonable pace, but they wouldn't give me my number over the phone. I had to wait until the physical card arrived in the mail before I could start my supplemental coverage. And then it took another 10 days to receive that card in the mail. It was actually mid-May before everything was in place.

If you wish to start your Social Security checks in June, then you must request that your benefits begin in May. This seems wrong to me, but that's the way it works. I asked to start my Social Security in June. So, I don't get a check until July, even though I owe Medicare premiums for both May and June.

My Social Security benefit hadn't started in May, so Medicare sent me a bill for the first premium payment. Apparently, they bill quarterly, so this was for 3 months of premiums. I didn't want to risk my coverage, so I shrugged and paid. This was another mistake.

I soon received a letter explaining that my current and past due Medicare premiums would be deducted from my first Social Security check. Even though I had already paid. This seemed like a clear case of double-billing, so I called to complain.

The Medicare rep said that the SSA deduction is automatic and out of their control. She told me that I should have just ignored the bill. Then I called SSA to complain. That rep confirmed the double-billing and admitted that it happens all the time. The good news is that I'll automatically get a refund next quarter, in September. Somehow, it doesn't feel like a win.