Skip Navigation

Medicare Coverage

Medicare Important Information:

Toll-Free Phone Number:

1-800-MEDICARE

Mount Pleasant Office:
1940 Sweeney St.
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Phone: 989-773-5411


Website: www.medicare.gov

Eligibility details for Medicare benefits.

(These are brief descriptions of the different types of Medicare benefits available.  Please contact the Social Security Administration directly for complete details and eligibility.)

You can visit their website at: www.medicare.gov

  • Reaching age 65 (not at 62 or 65+ months, etc. those dates are for Social Security pension benefits)
  • Becoming eligible for Social Security Disability
    • If approved you are eligible on the 24th month after the approved effective date by Social Security.
    • If it is an end stage renal disease disability there are different effective dates.

Insurance Benefits:

Parts A & B

  • Part A is for hospitalization coverage and is free.  You can sign up for this coverage while actively working.
  • Part B if for outpatient physician’s charges, x-rays, lab fees and inpatient hospitalization charges by the physician.  Part B has a charge for it. It goes up each year and the rate is set by Medicare/Social Security.  If you do not sign up at the appropriate time you could be penalized for not enrolling in time. They will not allow you to pick up Part B until their open enrollment and their will be an additional charge to pay for the rest of your life.

Find out if you need to enroll in these Medicare Parts A & B. It depends on your situation.

If actively working and covered on a large group health plan, you may take Part A (no cost to you), but you do not have to take Medicare Part B (it has a monthly charge).

If spouse is actively working and covering you on his/her large group health plan, you may take Part A (no cost to you), but you do not have to take Medicare Part B (it has a monthly charge).

  • Note: You must remember to enroll in the Medicare coverage at the time you or your spouse loses or drops coverage.  There cannot be any lapse in time.

If you are on any retiree medical plan through you or your spouse, you must enroll in Medicare Parts A & B as soon as you are eligible. If you don’t take the coverage, you will be paying the costs that the Medicare Parts A & B would have paid if you signed up for it, and your retiree’s supplemental plan will pay secondary to what Medicare would have paid. This could be very costly expense to you. To see if you need to sign up for Medicare Part D, please refer to that section.

The new Medicare Part D Prescription coverage which is effective 1/1/2006 – This is a new prescription drug plan through Medicare.

  • If you are covered under the MPSERS medical insurance, you do not have to sign-up for Medicare Part D.  MPSERS is working directly with Medicare and is considered a creditable coverage plan.  All claims will be paid directly through MPSERS as long as you do not sign-up for Medicare Part D. Your medical card will have new prescription numbers on it to use at the drug store.
  • If you are covered by CMU’s retiree’s medical insurance, you do not have to sign-up for Medicare Part D.  CMU’s plan is considered a creditable coverage plan.  All claims will be paid directly by your CMU coverage as long as you do not sign-up for Medicare Part D.
  • If on MESSA retiree’s medical insurance paying directly through MESSA, you do not have to sign-up for Medicare Part D.
  • If you are actively working at CMU and carrying the employer’s medical coverage, you do not have to sign up for the Medicare coverage.  You will stay on your regular plan.  It will pay claims as primary and Medicare will not be involved.
  • If on a Spouse’s retiree insurance, you must contact his or her plan to find out if you have to enroll in Medicare Part D.
  • If spouse is actively working, and is carrying both of you on a large group health plan, you probably will not have to pick up the Medicare coverage.  But you should check with your spouse’s plan administrator and follow their rules.
 

***Remember these rules could change, so be sure to check it with the employer or retirement plan administrator where you are carrying your medical and prescription insurance.

Please visit www.medicare.gov for current updated information.