Most railroad workers enroll in Medicare by contacting their local Railroad Retirement Board The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of the United States government created in 1935 to administer a social insurance program providing retirement benefits to the country's railroad workers.Railroad Retirement Board
Where to submit railroad Medicare claims?
• Call Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare toll-free at 1-800-833-4455. If you are hearing impaired, you can call (877) 566-3572. • Call the Railroad Retirement Board’s automated system at 1-800-808-0772. • Submit an Online Service Request on the RRB website www.RRB.gov.
Does railroad Medicare accept paper claims?
Send paper claims to: Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare. P.O. Box 10066. Augusta, GA 30999-0001. File an eClaim: eServices users also have the ability to submit paperless eClaims through the portal. See section 4.6 of the eServices User Manual (PDF, 8.59 MB) for more information. eServices Claim Submission (eClaim) Tips.
How to manually file a claim with Medicare?
- A copy of the bill
- Your Medicare information
- The doctor’s NPN (call the doctor who treated you and ask them for it)
Does railroad Medicare require authorization?
Prior authorizations requests for Railroad Medicare patients should be submitted to the jurisdictional Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) that will process the hospital’s outpatient department facility claim. No PA requests should be submitted to Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare.
How do I contact railroad Medicare?
Provider Contact Center: 888-355-9165 Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all time zones with the exception of PT, which provides service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Is railroad Medicare same as Medicare?
A: The only difference is that retired railroad beneficiaries have their Part B benefits administered by the Palmetto GBA Railroad Retirement Board Specialty Medicare Administrative Contractor (RRB SMAC) regardless of where they live. Members should be certain to advise providers of this when they receive treatment.
How do I find my railroad Medicare claims?
If you'd like to use the IVR, you can do so by calling 800–833–4455. From the main menu, press one (1) for claim status. You will need your Railroad Medicare number, date of birth, name, and date of service for the claim you are searching for. Claim status is available Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. ET.
Does railroad Medicare require prior authorization?
Prior authorizations requests for Railroad Medicare patients should be submitted to the jurisdictional Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) that will process the hospital's outpatient department facility claim. No PA requests should be submitted to Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare.
Who administers railroad Medicare?
Palmetto GBA is contracted by the independent federal agency Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), which administers comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts.
Is railroad Medicare a Medicare Advantage Plan?
Yes, Railroad Medicare beneficiaries can choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans.
What is the payer ID for railroad Medicare?
MR018Payer Name: Medicare - Railroad|Payer ID: MR018|Professional (CMS 1500)
How do I verify eligibility for railroad Medicare?
Verifying Railroad Medicare enrollment is easy using our online PTAN Lookup and Request Tool. This tool first validates the provider identification information you enter — local Part B MAC PTAN, National Provider Identifier (NPI) and Tax Identification Number (TIN) — against enrollment information in our files.
Does Railroad Medicare have a provider portal?
Events. Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare is pleased to offer eServices, our free Internet-based, provider self-service portal. The application provides information access over the Web for the following online services: Eligibility.
What do Railroad Medicare ID numbers look like?
Medicare Numbers have 11 characters and contain numbers and uppercase letters only. They do not contain the letters S, L, O, I, B or Z. Characters one, four, seven, 10 and 11 will always be a number.
What is prior authorization Medicare?
Prior authorization is a requirement that a health care provider obtain approval from Medicare to provide a given service. Prior Authorization is about cost-savings, not care. Under Prior Authorization, benefits are only paid if the medical care has been pre-approved by Medicare.
How do I contact Palmetto GBA?
For inquiries regarding provider enrollment, please call the Provider Contact Center at 855–696–0705. For education, please complete the Education Request form. To access this document, go to the Forms web page at www.PalmettoGBA.com/hhh/forms. Provider inquiries, please call 855–696–0705.
Where is the railroad retirement board on my Medicare card?
Your Medicare card is similar to the new Medicare cards that all beneficiaries receive, with the exception that “Railroad Retirement Board” is printed in a red banner at the bottom of the card .
What happens if you receive a railroad retirement?
If you receive Railroad Retirement benefits or disability annuity benefits from the railroad at the time of eligibility for Medicare, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B by the RRB. After the RRB automatically enrolls you, you receive your Medicare card together with a letter from the RRB explaining ...
What is the RRB?
The RRB administers insurance and retirement benefits to all railroad workers in the country. Instead of getting retirement benefits from the U.S. Social Security Administration as other workers do, the RRB provides railroad workers and their families with retirement benefits, along with unemployment and sickness benefits, ...
Do you have to go through the Social Security Administration if you are employed by the railroad?
However, if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and qualify for Medicare, you must go through the Social Security Administration even if you are employed by the railroad.
Does Medicare cover railroad employees?
Medicare offers coverage to railroad employees just as it does for people who have Social Security. The payroll taxes of railroad employees include railroad retirement and Medicare hospital insurance taxes.
What Medicare Parts does RRB automatically enroll you in?
If you are receiving Railroad Retirement benefits or railroad disability annuity checks when you become eligible for Medicare, RRB should automatically enroll you in Medicare Parts A and B . You should receive your red, white, and blue Medicare card and a letter from RRB explaining that you have been enrolled in Medicare.
What to do if you are not collecting Railroad Retirement?
If you are not collecting Railroad Retirement benefits when you turn 65, you should contact your local RRB field office to enroll in Medicare. If you are under 65 and have a disability, you will have to fulfill different eligibility requirements to qualify for Medicare.
Does Medicare Part B get deducted from your check?
If you receive Railroad Retirement benefits or railroad disability annuity checks, your Medicare Part B premium should be automatically deducted from your check each month. If you do not qualify for premium-free Part A, it will also be deducted from your check.
What is the number to call a railroad retirement board?
Call a Licensed Agent: 833-271-5571. Due to COVID-19, the Railroad Retirement Board closed offices as of March 16, 2020. We’ll keep you updated on when offices reopen. In the meantime, visit RRB.gov to learn about your online self-serve options.
How long do you have to enroll in Medicare if you have end stage renal disease?
Whether you become eligible for Medicare via age or disability, you’ll have seven months, called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), in which to enroll.
When do you become eligible for Medicare?
Typically, you’ll become eligible when you turn 65 or reach your 25th month of receiving disability benefits. The main difference is that the RRB classifies disability differently than the SSA does, so check with a representative ...
Does Medicare pay through the RRB?
Generally, your Medicare costs through the RRB will be the same as those paid by people who qualify for Medicare via Social Security. Just like workers outside the railroad industry, you’ll see Medicare deductions from your paycheck during your working years.
Does RRB have Medicare?
Today, the RRB offers railroad workers a similar safety net. RRB beneficiaries can tap into Medicare benefits, much like Social Security beneficiaries, with a few differences. If you are a railroad worker, learn what you can expect from Medicare in terms of eligibility, enrollment, costs, and health benefits—and how your RRB benefits differ ...
Do you pay Medicare Part D premiums through RRB?
If you add Medicare Part D, Medigap, or Medicare Advantage, you’ll pay additional premiums for these as well, but not through your RRB income checks. You’ll pay for each of these coverages separately, directly to the insurance company that provides each plan.
Is Medicare the same as Social Security?
Benefits. Generally, Medicare benefits are the same whether you qualify via Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board. But there are a few differences.
How to become a railroad Medicare provider?
The first step in becoming a Railroad Medicare provider is to request and receive a Railroad Medicare Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN). You will need a separate PTAN for Railroad Medicare because we are a different jurisdiction from your local Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). Before requesting a Railroad Medicare PTAN, you ...
Do you need to be enrolled in Medicare before requesting a PTAN?
Before requesting a Railroad Medicare PTAN, you must be actively enrolled with your local Part B MAC. Once you are enrolled as a Medicare Part B provider, you are eligible to render services for a Railroad Medicare beneficiary, but you must request and be assigned a Railroad Medicare PTAN before we can process your claims.
Does Railroad Medicare require CMS-855?
There are no CMS-855 enrollment forms required for Railroad Medicare. When you request a Railroad Medicare PTAN, Palmetto GBA verifies the enrollment information on file with your Part B MAC and creates a corresponding Railroad Medicare enrollment file. The effective date of your Railroad Medicare PTAN will be retroactive to the effective date ...
Can I request a PTAN for a railroad?
You can request a new Railroad Medicare PTAN for individual providers only (physician, non-physician practitioner, ambulance, laboratory, ambulatory surgical center, etc.). Please do not attempt to request a new PTAN for a group/practice. A group PTAN will be created when an individual PTAN is assigned to the first group member.
Is Railroad PTAN retroactive?
The effective date of your Railroad Medicare PTAN will be retroactive to the effective date of your Part B Medicare PTAN. If you have recently provided a Part B service to a Railroad Medicare beneficiary and are ready to submit your claim, follow these easy steps to request a Railroad Medicare Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN).
How long does it take for Medicare to reject a claim?
Rejected claims must be corrected and resubmitted no later than 12 months from the date of service. Medicare will deny claims received after the deadline date.
How long does it take to file a claim with the MAC?
Claims must be filed to the appropriate MAC no later than 12 months, one calendar year, from the date of service. Timely filing is determined by the date a processable claim is received by the appropriate MAC.
Provider Contact Center: 1-888-355-9165
Call the Provider Contact Center (PCC) to speak with representatives in Customer Service, Provider Enrollment, Electronic Data Interchange, eServices and Telephone Reopenings.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR): 1-877-288-7600
Use the IVR to request routine claim status, beneficiary eligibility, and payment information and to request a duplicate remittance advice.
Email Us
Use our contact form to submit general inquiries or to provide feedback on our website. For security reasons please do not submit requests involving PHI/PII with this form.
Contact Palmetto GBA Departments
For information on contacting a specific department by phone, email, fax, or for instructions on submitting documentation by mail, please select a department:
Feedback to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
If you would like to send any feedback to the RRB regarding your experience with Palmetto GBA, please direct your comments to: [email protected] .
Call 888-355-9165, select Option 5 for Customer Service
Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all time zones with the exception of PT, which receives service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact a Different Department
View our main Contact Us page for information on how to submit a general inquiry or to contact a different department.
