You first become eligible for Medicare three months prior to your 65th birthday. If you are collecting social security or railroad benefits and qualify for Medicare, you will automatically be enrolled and your card will be mailed to you.

The first day of the month your birthday falls in. Two exceptions are; If your birthday is the first day of the month, the effective date is the first day of the prior month. If your birthday is the last day of the month, your effective date is the first day of the following month. (I know, confusing right? Thank the government for that!)

If you are not collecting social security or railroad benefits, you can still enroll in Medicare.

You can “opt” out of Part B Medicare until you are no longer covered by a group plan. Once you or your spouse retires, you will be eligible for a “Special Enrollment Period” and will have up to eight months to sign up for Medicare B after group coverage ends.

Medicare A covers hospital cost and skilled nursing facilities. Medicare B covers doctor visits and outpatient related costs. For coverage details consult the “Medicare and You 2010″ booklet. You can download a copy from the www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-633-4227 to order a printed copy.

Pennsylvania has two programs called PACE and PACENET which are designed to help lower income Medicare beneficiaries pay for their prescription medication.

Certain Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for help with their Medicare B premiums. This criteria is established based on federal poverty guidelines.

This when you are first eligible for Medicare and begins three months prior to your 65th birthday and last seven months. A person who has group coverage which has ended is eligible to enroll in Medicare up to eight months after the month their coverage has ended.

From January 1st to the 31st of each year, If you enroll in Part B during the General Enrollment Period, it will be effective July 1 of the year in which you apply. Your Medicare B premium may go up 10% for each 12 month period that you could have had Medicare Part B, but did not sign up.