When To Apply For Medicare

Coverage for Medicare Parts A and B is not automatic. You need to apply for it by going to medicare.gov.

• If you retire before or at age 65, it’s best to apply for coverage three months before you turn age 65. You can also apply up to three months after the month in which you turn age 65 without paying a late-enrollment penalty.
• If you continue to work past age 65, it’s best to apply for coverage three months before your retirement month (since the medical coverage you have as an active employee will end at the end of the month in which you retire). You also can apply for Medicare up to eight months after your active employee medical coverage ends without paying a late-enrollment penalty.

Retirement Process Timeline Tool

Use the Retirement Process Timeline tool to model different retirement dates and see what steps you need to take for a smooth transition into retirement.

About Medicare

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Some people who are between the ages of 18 and 65 with certain disabilities that prevent them from working can also get Medicare. People who work past age 65 and are covered by their employer’s medical plan usually hold off on enrolling in Medicare until after their employment ends.

Make Changes to Your Medicare Coverage

After you enroll in Medicare, you will have an opportunity each year to make changes to your coverage election. For more details, visit the Medicare website, medicare.gov.

Using Medicare

With traditional Medicare, you can go to any doctor, hospital or other provider that takes Medicare patients. You usually pay a deductible and part of the cost of the services you receive. Medicare decides what amounts doctors and other health care providers can charge for the services Medicare covers.

What You Need to Apply for Medicare

When you apply for Medicare, you will need to provide the Social Security Administration with the following forms:

• CMS 40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare)
• CMS L564 (Request for Employment Information)

Call the Social Security Administration to request copies of these forms be sent to you. Then call the RASC to have the forms completed on behalf of Rockwell Automation.