What You Need to Do to Keep Medicare Working

Medicare does not end automatically, but it does require you to take specific steps to keep it active and prevent gaps in coverage. The main tasks are paying your premiums on time, reporting changes in your life to Medicare, and renewing your coverage during the annual enrollment period. Missing any of these can result in late fees, loss of coverage, or being locked out of certain plans for a year.

The exact steps depend on which Medicare parts you have. Part A (hospital insurance) is usually free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, so it requires no premium payment. Part B (medical insurance), Part D (prescription drug), and any supplemental or Medicare Advantage plan you choose all have premiums that must be paid on time each month or quarter.

Key Takeaways

  • Pay your Part B, Part D, and any supplemental or Medicare Advantage premiums by the due date each month to avoid late fees and coverage loss.
  • Report changes to Medicare within 30 days — including address changes, income changes, and changes to your household — so your coverage and costs stay correct.
  • Review your coverage every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) to make sure your plan still fits your needs and costs.
  • Keep your Medicare card, insurance documents, and proof of premium payments in one place so you can show them to doctors and resolve billing disputes quickly.
  • If you move to a different state or lose other insurance, you may have a Special Enrollment Period to change plans outside the annual window.

Paying Your Premiums On Time

Part B premiums are deducted from your Social Security check automatically if you receive benefits. If you do not receive Social Security, you will receive a bill from Medicare each month, usually by the 20th of the month before it is due. The premium amount changes each year and depends on your income from two years ago — higher earners pay more.

Part D (prescription drug) and supplemental or Medicare Advantage plan premiums are paid to the insurance company you chose, not to Medicare. These are usually deducted from your bank account or charged to a credit card on a date you set up when you first joined. If you miss a payment, the insurance company will send you a notice, and your coverage can be terminated if you do not pay within 30 days.

If you have trouble paying your premiums, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or your insurance company directly. Some people with low income may be able to get help paying Part B premiums through your state's Medicaid program or through a program called the Medicare Savings Program.

Reporting Life Changes to Medicare

Medicare needs to know about changes in your life because they can affect your costs, your coverage, or both. You must report changes within 30 days. The most common changes are a move to a new address, a change in income, a change in your household (marriage, divorce, death of a spouse), or a change in other insurance you have.

You can report changes online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or by mail. If your change affects your costs — for example, your income went down — you may be able to lower your premiums when ready rather than waiting until next year. If you move to a new state, you may need to change your plan because not all plans are available in all states.

If you lose other insurance (such as coverage through a former employer), you have 63 days to join a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan without a late fee. This is called a Special Enrollment Period. If you miss this window, you will pay a penalty for each month you were without coverage, and the penalty stays with you for as long as you have Medicare.

The Annual Enrollment Period and Plan Review

Every year from October 15 to December 7, you can review your Medicare coverage and make changes for the following year. This is called the Annual Enrollment Period. Even if you are happy with your current plan, it is worth reviewing because plan costs, coverage, and networks change every year. A plan that was cheap last year might be expensive this year, or your doctor might leave the network.

During this period, you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, change your Medicare Advantage plan, change your Part D plan, or add or drop a supplemental plan. Any changes you make take effect on January 1 of the next year.

If you do not make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period, your current coverage continues into the next year. However, if you miss the important date and your circumstances have changed — for example, you moved or your income changed — you may not be able to change plans until the next Annual Enrollment Period, unless you may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period.

Keeping Your Information Current With Medicare

Medicare uses your address, phone number, and email to send you important notices about coverage changes, premium increases, and important date. If your contact information is wrong, you might miss a important date or not know about a change that affects your coverage. Update your address, phone, and email at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

You should also keep your Medicare card in a safe place and bring it to every doctor visit. Your card shows your Medicare number, which doctors need to bill Medicare. If your card is lost or damaged, you can request a replacement online at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. A new card usually arrives within two weeks.

Keep copies of your insurance documents, including your plan documents, your formulary (the list of covered drugs), and your provider network directory. These documents tell you what is covered, what your costs are, and which doctors and pharmacies are in your plan. If you have questions about coverage or billing, these documents are the first place to look.

What Happens If You Miss a important date

If you miss the Annual Enrollment Period and do not have a may have access to life change, you cannot change your plan until the next October. The exception is if you have a Special Enrollment Period — for example, because you moved, lost other insurance, or had a change in income that qualifies you for extra help paying for drugs.

If you miss a premium payment, your coverage can be terminated. For Part B, if you do not pay within three months, your coverage ends. For Part D and supplemental or Medicare Advantage plans, coverage usually ends 30 days after the payment is due. Once coverage ends, you may have to pay a late fee to rejoin, and the fee stays with you for as long as you have Medicare.

If you realize you have missed a important date or payment, contact Medicare or your insurance company right away. Sometimes coverage can be restored if you pay what you owe within a certain time frame, or you may be able to appeal a termination decision.

Staying Informed About Medicare Changes

Medicare rules and plan options change every year. The best way to stay informed is to read the notices Medicare sends you, especially the "Annual Notice of Change" that your plan sends in the fall. This notice tells you about changes to your plan's costs, coverage, and network for the coming year.

You can also visit Medicare.gov to compare plans, read about coverage rules, and find contact information for your plan. The site has a tool called "Plan Finder" that lets you enter your zip code and see which plans are available in your area and what they cost. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE to speak with a counselor who can answer questions about your coverage.

Some states also have programs called State Health Insurance information Programs (SHIPs) that offer free, one-on-one counseling about Medicare. A SHIP counselor can help you understand your coverage, compare plans, and resolve billing problems. You can find your state's SHIP by visiting shiptalk.org or calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my Medicare if I move to another state?

Your Medicare coverage continues, but you may need to change your plan because not all plans are available in all states. You have 60 days from your move to change plans. If you do not change plans during this time, you can still change during the next Annual Enrollment Period, but you cannot change until then unless you have another may have access to change.

Can I keep my Medicare if I go back to work?

Yes. Going back to work does not end your Medicare coverage. However, if you are under 65 and have Medicare because of disability, working above a certain earnings level can end your disability benefits. Contact Social Security to find out how work affects your benefits.

What if I do not pay my Part B premium?

If you do not pay within three months, your Part B coverage ends. You can restart it, but you will owe the unpaid premiums plus a late fee of 10 percent for each year you were without coverage. The late fee stays with you permanently.

Do I have to enroll in Part D if I do not take prescription drugs?

You do not have to enroll in Part D right now, but if you wait and then join later, you will pay a late fee for each month you were without coverage. The fee is based on the national average Part D premium and stays with you for as long as you have Medicare. If you are certain you will never need prescription drugs, you can skip Part D without penalty.

How do I know if my doctor is still in my plan's network?

Check your plan's provider directory on your insurance company's website or call the customer service number on your insurance card. Networks change every year, so check before your annual visit. If your doctor leaves the network, you can switch plans during the Annual Enrollment Period or, in some cases, request a continuity of care exception from your plan.