On June 30, 1965, President Johnson signed H.R. 6675, which led to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid. Under this bill, Medicare Parts A and B were created and today these benefits are commonly referred to as “Original Medicare”.

To understand Medicare, it’s important to start with Original Medicare, because Parts A and B are often considered its building blocks. Having a solid understanding of the costs and benefits of Original Medicare is important since almost everyone is required to enroll in Parts A and B when seeking post-retirement health benefits. For example, to enroll in additional benefits such as a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, enrollment in Original Medicare is a must. Additionally, many employer-retiree plans, Tricare, and other corporate-sponsored retiree programs require enrollment into Original Medicare as part of your post-retirement health benefits.

The famous New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to the fork in the road, take it.” While clearly this quote provides humor, it provides no clear path or direction when seeking your destination. Our Medicare options can be viewed as a fork in the road, however, there is a decision to make about which direction to take. 

When the time comes for you to start Medicare, your first step is to enroll in Original Medicare. Original Medicare consists of Parts A and B and together they provide comprehensive health insurance for your medical needs. Once securing your enrollment in Original Medicare, the next step is to determine if you will remain on Original Medicare or select a Medicare Advantage plan. Taking the time to understand how each option works will go a long way in selecting the right Medicare plans.

Medicare has several enrollment periods that allow you to enroll in or change your Medicare benefits. For individuals transitioning into Medicare, it is important to understand which enrollment period will apply to their situation and the window that it creates. Failing to apply during the appropriate enrollment period can lead to lapses in coverage and lifetime financial penalties.

Let's look at the six enrollment periods in the Medicare program.

Statistics show 96% of people over the age of 65, many of whom are your clients, are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. For decades, post-retirement medical expenses have been increasing faster than income growth. Therefore, when forecasting retirement expenses, it is important to keep up with the annual changes in Medicare costs and premiums.

Every November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) release the medical costs for Medicare Parts A and B for the upcoming year. This includes the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) for Parts B and D, as well as premiums, copays, and coinsurance associated with the Medicare program.