Anyone here answer a medicare question?

[rhett o rick]

Medicare is coming boomers.

My question is: Does everyone have to enroll in and/or pay for Medicare?

If you do enroll, does it automatically become your primary coverage?

Ok, so it's a two part question.

[DeeDeeNY]

1. I think it becomes your primary coverage

Not sure about whether it's mandatory, but I think it is.

[SheilaT]

2. You have to enroll, I'm pretty sure.

They don't just send you out your Medicare card.

Also, Medicare is primary except in certain specific instances:
You are receiving Black Lung benefits
You have Group Health Coverage of your own or through your spouse. If through your own current employment, your employer must have at least 20 employees. If through your spouse's employment, that person's employer must have at least 100 people on the payroll.
The VA (Veteran's Administration) has authorized and agree to pay for specific treatment.
The illness or injury was due to a work related accident or condition, or a non work related accident for which there is some kind of liability coverage.

I do out patient admissions at a hospital, so I know the MSP (Medicare as Secondary Payer) questions by heart.

[pengillian101]

3. I don't think so.

Once my SS Disability hit the two-year mark, Medicare kicked in without my doing a thing. It was a surprise to me.

[RebelOne]

4. I started receiving Social Security benefits at 65.

I did not enroll in Medicare because I had an excellent health plan at my job. I was laid off in 2010 and then switched over to Medicare.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Go to the source:

https://questions.medicare.gov/app/home