Why is my Social Security number not the same as Medicare number?
This issue exists because the Health Care Financing Administration, the agency that runs the Medicare program, chose a long time ago to simply use the Social Security claim number as the Medicare number.
Can I get Medicare if I am not eligible for Social Security?
While families of retired and disabled workers are eligible for Social Security, families are generally not eligible for Medicare. How do I enroll in Medicare if I am receiving Social Security? If you are getting Social Security benefits at least four months before you turn 65, you generally do not need to enroll in Medicare.
What happens to my Medicare card when I switch to Social Security?
Once you reach age 70 and switch to your own Social Security, you will then be claiming your own retirement benefits, so you will get a new Medicare card that will have your own Social Security number with an A after it. (That A is Social Security's code for retirement benefits.)
Is my social security claim number a mistake?
A: No, it's not a mistake. As explained above, you are claiming widow's benefits on your husband's record, so your Social Security (and Medicare) claim number is your husband's-with a D after it. D is the SSA symbol for widow's benefits.
How to apply for Medicare if your Social Security is locked?
To apply online when your Social Security account is locked or because of IRS/Social Security account locked account or you cannot open a “My Social Security” account and have a suspended account. Click on the EXIT button (do not click off the page) and proceed to the Medicare enrollment application page. This information cannot be found on any Social Security information on “How to Enroll in Medicare.”
What to do if your Social Security number is locked?
If your credit/Social Security number or IRS information has been compromised and the My Social Security account is locked, then click EXIT and proceed to the Medicare enrollment application. For help enrolling in Medicare contact the Toni Says® office at 832-519-8664 or email [email protected].
Why was my Social Security account locked out?
Someone turning 65 in June, had a Medicare consultation at the Toni Says office and when he was enrolling in Medicare, was locked out of his Social Security account because his credit/IRS file was locked due to someone also making a false IRS tax filing.
Who is the author of Medicare Survival Guide?
Toni King , author of the Medicare Survival Guide® is giving a $5 discount on the Medicare Survival Guide® Advanced book for the Toni Says® readers at www.tonisays.com. Is the maze of Medicare confusing you? Visit www.ABBS4U.com.
Does Jodie start a Social Security check?
Jodie starting a “My Social Security Account” does not begin your Social Security check.
When do you have to get a Medicare number?
And third, when you reached age 70, you switched from your wife's account to your own retirement benefits. So at age 65, they had to give you a Medicare number.
What happens when you switch to your own Social Security?
Once you reach age 70 and switch to your own Social Security, you will then be claiming your own retirement benefits, so you will get a new Medicare card that will have your own Social Security number with an A after it. (That A is Social Security's code for retirement benefits.)
What is the code for a second Medicare card?
Then when you turned 66 and filed for husband's benefits on your wife's record, you got your second Medicare card, this one with your wife's Social Security number with the code B1 behind it. B1 is the code SSA uses to designate someone getting husband's benefits on his wife's Social Security account.
What is the B on my husband's Social Security number?
You are currently claiming wife's benefits on your husband's record. (That little symbol "B" is Social Security's code for wife's benefits.) So as long as you are claiming wife's benefits, your husband's number with a B behind it is your Medicare number.
Do baby boomers get spousal benefits from their husband's Social Security?
By Tom Margenau. One bit of fallout from the recent trend for retiring baby boomers who are maximizing their Social Security benefits by claiming, at least for a while, spousal benefits from their husband's or wife's Social Security account is some confusion over Medicare numbers. Today's first two questions deal with that issue.
Is it a mistake to claim widow's benefits?
A: No, it's not a mistake. As explained above, you are claiming widow's benefits on your husband's record, so your Social Security (and Medicare) claim number is your husband's — with a D after it. D is the SSA symbol for widow's benefits. If anyone is curious to learn the various letter symbols SSA uses to designate different kinds ...
Does Medicare match my Social Security number?
A: No, the number on your Medicare card will not always match your own Social Security number. What it will match is your Social Security claim number, which may be different from your regular Social Security number. You are currently claiming wife's benefits on your husband's record. (That little symbol "B" is Social Security's code ...
How long do you have to wait to get Medicare if you have a disability?
If you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) you automatically get Medicare Part A and Part B the month your Social Security disability benefits begin. If you enroll in Medicare because you have ESRD (end-stage renal disease) and you’re on dialysis, Medicare coverage generally starts on the first day of the fourth month of your dialysis treatments. Like with ALS, there is no two-year waiting period to enroll in Medicare.
How long do you have to be on Medicare before you turn 65?
If you are not receiving Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you need to voluntarily enroll in Medicare in order to be covered. You can enroll online, in person, or over the phone. To enroll in Medicare online, apply online at the Social Security website.
How long does it take to get Medicare after ALS?
Like with ALS, there is no two-year waiting period to enroll in Medicare. You also can apply for Social Security and Medicare at the same time through the Social Security Official Website.
When does Medicare start for ESRD?
If you enroll in Medicare because you have ESRD (end-stage renal disease) and you’re on dialysis, Medicare coverage generally starts on the first day of the fourth month of your dialysis treatments . Like with ALS, there is no two-year waiting period to enroll in Medicare.
When do you get Medicare if you are 65?
If you are getting Social Security benefits at least four months before you turn 65, you generally do not need to enroll in Medicare. You will automatically get Medicare Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. If your birthday is the first of the month, your Medicare benefits will start the first day of the prior month. ...
How does age affect Social Security?
Your age at retirement and your lifetime earnings affect your Social Security benefit amount . Higher earnings will result in higher Social Security benefits. The earliest you can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits is age 62, but you may receive more if you wait longer to retire.
Who is covered by Social Security?
The Social Security Administration states that almost all (96%) of American workers are covered under Social Security. Your age at retirement ...
How long does it take to apply for medicare?
You can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to start your retirement benefits. Applying online can take less than 10 minutes. There are no forms to sign and we usually require no documentation.
When does Medicare enrollment end?
If you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that birthday.
What is the purpose of Social Security number?
Social Security Numbers are used for tax purposes, disability benefits, retirement benefits, credit score monitoring, getting approved for credit and loans, employment verification, purchasing automobiles and homes, opening bank accounts, and much more.
What is the last 4 digits of a social security number?
The last four digits are known as the “serial number.” These numbers run from 0001 to 9999 and are assigned in order based on a person’s group number. While everyone’s Social Security Number is different, you will be able to tell the relative area where a person is from based on their first three digits if they received their number prior to 2011.
What is an area number?
The first set of three numbers was assigned as an “area number.” This number was assigned based on the geographical region in which your Social Security Card was issued. Now, this region was not necessarily the region in which a person lived, as they were allowed to register at any Social Security office. These numbers were loosely assigned starting in the northeast and moving westward, with the highest numbers being provided to those living on the west coast.
Is it important to keep your social security number private?
It is always important to keep your Social Security information private. You should also be cognizant any time you are asked to provide your Social Security Number. If you are asked to supply it, be sure it is on a secure website and that you are only providing your information to those you trust.
How to check my Medicare application?
How to check your Medicare application online. If you applied for Medicare online, you can check the status of your application through your Medicare or Social Security account. You can also visit the Check Enrollment page on Medicare.gov and find information about your enrollment status by entering your: ZIP code. Medicare number.
How to change Medicare plan when you get it in mail?
When you get your Medicare card in the mail, make sure the information is correct. Contact Social Security if you want to change your plan. There may be fees included in changing plans or adding additional coverage if you didn’t do it when you were eligible.
How to check Medicare Part D enrollment?
date of birth. Medicare Part A effective date. You can also check the status of your application by visiting or calling a Social Security office. You can ask your pharmacy to check the status of your Medicare Part D enrollment by sending a test claim. You can also call the Member Services department ...
What color is my Medicare card?
If your application has been approved, you’ll receive a red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. Your card will show your name, Medicare number, which Medicare plans you benefit from, and the start dates for each plan.
When do you start receiving Medicare benefits?
Your benefits may not start until 3 months after applying, so it’s important to apply 3 months before your 65th birthday to start receiving coverage that day. If you already collect Social Security income benefits or Railroad Retirement Benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65.
What to do if your application has been denied?
Once your application has been reviewed, you should receive a letter in the mail to confirm whether you’ve been enrolled in the program or not. If your application has been denied, the letter will explain why this decision was made and what to do next.
Is the application process free?
The application is completely free. Once you apply, you’ll be able to check on the status of your application at any time. This article explains how to check on your application to make sure it’s being processed.
What percentage of payroll is Medicare Part A?
Like Social Security, it has a trust fund that is funded with Medicare payroll taxes – 1.45 percent of payroll for both the employee and the employer. Unlike Social Security, there is no wage ceiling on Medicare taxes.
How much of Medicare Part B premiums are covered?
Nearly all of the difference, or more than $236 billion, came from general government revenues. By law, in fact, Medicare Part B premiums need cover only 25 percent of projected Part B expenses. There are many, many reasons to support the continuation and even expansion of Medicare programs for people aged 65 and older.
Can you deduct health insurance premiums?
Tax deductions for employer-provided health insurance premiums are a terrific workplace perk that Medicare beneficiaries don’t enjoy. While this doesn’t help you, imagine how people feel who buy health insurance on a state exchange through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? They get no tax deductions on their premiums, either, even though their coverage may be similar if not identical to employer-provided health coverage. Of course, lower-income folks may qualify for ACA premium tax credits. Over time, if more employers stop providing health insurance and force employees onto exchanges, the pressure will grow to change if not end the deductibility of premiums for employer-provided health plans.
Does Medicare affect people differently?
Medicare rules and private insurance plans can affect people differently depending on where they live. To make sure the answers here are as accurate as possible, Phil is working with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It is funded by the government but is otherwise independent and trains volunteers to provide consumer Medicare counseling in state and local offices around the country. The nonprofit Medicare Rights Center is also providing ongoing help.
Is there a wage ceiling on Medicare?
Unlike Social Security, there is no wage ceiling on Medicare taxes. The Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund is sufficiently funded to pay all claims for the next 15 years or so. But, like the much larger Social Security retirement trust fund, it needs attention much sooner than that to avoid running out of funds.
Is the Republican majority in Congress disallowed?
The Republican majority in Congress has, to date, disallowed the short-term fix of siphoning funds from the bigger retirement trust fund to the smaller disability fund. Leaders say it’s time to fashion longer-term solutions and stop kicking the can down the road. So far, so good.
Is Medicare a primary payer?
The rules for these small-employer plans may require Medicare to become the primary payer of insurance claims with the employer plan the secondary payer. Even if you work for a larger employer, you are very smart to want to check out these matters ahead of time.
What to do if you forgot your Social Security password?
If you forgot your password to your personal my Social Security account, you can request a temporary password to gain access. You can go to the Sign In page and select “Forgot Password?” You will then enter your username, Social Security number, and date of birth.
What is the second factor for SS?
When you registered for a personal my Social Security account, you identified either your email address or cell phone number as your second factor for authentication. Each time you sign in to your account, we send you a one-time security code to either the email address or cell phone number you provided when you registered for your account. You will need access to that second factor as you go through the steps to reset your account password.
How to verify my email address?
Instructions if Your Second Factor is Your Email#N#If you registered your email as a second factor, follow these steps: 1 Scroll down and check the “I agree to the Terms of Service” box. 2 Select “Next.” 3 You’ll come to the “Provide Information” page where you’ll enter your mailing address and primary phone number. Please note that we only need your phone number to verify your identity. 4 Select “Mail Temporary Password.” 5 Then, Select “Done” on the next page.