(Newswire.net — November 21, 2018) — There are many questions and certain rules when it comes to Medicare. One of the most frequently asked questions being, “Is Medicare Part B mandatory at age 65?” Medicare Part B comes with a premium in which you must pay every month. Therefore, Medicare Part B is not mandatory at the age of 65. Nonetheless, everyone aged 65 and older is automatically enrolled into both Medicare Parts A and B. This article will go over what Medicare Part B entails and will help you decide on whether you should opt in or out of this premium plan.
Is Medicare Part B Mandatory at Age 65?
People Who Don’t Plan on Retiring
For anyone who does not have a plan to retire at age 65, Part B Medicare might not be a necessity. This is typically when the employee already has some sort of insurance coverage through their employer. In such a case, they don’t need to pay for coverage through Medicare when they already have one.
If You Are Planning on Retiring
Nonetheless, if your plan is to retire at age 65, and you have no health coverage and lost your group coverage, you should sign up for Part B Medicare. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay some penalties.
How will you benefit from Medicare Part B?
Although Medicare Part B isn’t mandatory, in some situations, it might feel mandatory. This is because you’ll be penalized should you delay your enrollment. If you have a plan to continue working when you reach the age of 65, then it is not necessary to enroll in Medicare Part-B.
However, enrolling in Medicare Part B is extremely beneficial. The insurance covers different routine healthcare treatments alongside visits. Therefore, if you are able to pay the monthly premiums, for sure, you should take advantage of this great program.
Medicare Part B covers:
To understand whether you need to enroll for Medicare Part B, you should know what it covers.
Essentially, Medicare Part B covers medical services as well as treatments in 2 categories. One category is preventive services and the other one is medically necessary services.
Any medical treatment that aims at treating a diagnosed medical illness or condition falls under medical treatments. These treatments include doctor visits, surgeries, lab tests, diagnostic equipment, and supplies like wheelchairs.
As a Medicare Part B beneficiary, you’ll enjoy preventive services such as screenings of cancers and flu. Similarly, you’ll gain access to medical treatment and procedure that are under certain preventive categories.
Further, Medicare Part B covers certain prescription drugs for your outpatient treatment, mental counseling, ambulance services, as well as clinical research.
Just as any other program, Medicare does not fit everyone. As people age, they have medical needs that are different from others. Therefore, you should check out the options that Medicare will cover before you making a decision during enrollment period.
In Conclusion
So, is Medicare Part B mandatory at age 65? The answer to whether it is mandatory to sign up for Medicare Part B at age 65 depends on the situation you are in. Depending on what your medical needs are, signing up for Medicare Part B expands the amount of coverage that you’ll have for a monthly premium.