How Your Medicare Can Mess Up: Medicare Mistakes To Avoid

Finally, you’ve got all your Medicare set up, and you’re breathing a sigh of relief. Then, immediately, your mailbox is overwhelmed with a slew of claim denials. We’ll show you how to prevent post-enrollment Medicare errors that often happen.  Discover how to avoid Medicare errors with our concise guide. Learn key strategies to manage premiums, claims, and plan adjustments effectively, ensuring a hassle-free Medicare experience. Ideal for new Medicare enrollees seeking to sidestep potential pitfalls.

Medicare Post-Enrollment Errors to Prevent

Here are a few of the most famous Medicare errors we’ve seen over the years and how to prevent them.

Failing to Pay Premiums for Your Part B

Many individuals today work well past the age of 65. Because they still have working jobs, most of these individuals defer their Social Security income benefits. Although, in that case, Medicare does not subtract your Part B premiums from your Social Security check; they give you a quarterly invoice instead.

It can be very tempting to forget a Social Security bill with the mountain of mail that Medicare recipients receive every day from insurance firms. The outcome, unfortunately, is tragic.

Before you start taking Social Security, if you are enrolled in Part B, call them and ask them to file a bank draft. This is an excellent way to ensure you don’t ignore paying for Part B and cause a world of harm to yourself.

Not Notifying Medicare That You’ve Left Coverage for Employers.

Your former employer will correctly inform Medicare in an ideal world that you are no longer working there. Then Medicare will know that it is the main policy now, and as a primary, it will continue to compensate.

This works about 95 percent of the time, as it should. There are, however, a handful of cases every year in which the employer fails to inform Medicare that you have quit your work adequately.

We have also seen cases where the employer notifies Medicare again the next year that they are still protecting you. This gives rise to an entirely new round of rejected allegations.

Presenting the Incorrect ID Card to Your Provider – Part 1

This one has multiple variants of Medicare’s simple errors. You will show your initial Medicare card (and Medigap card) to your provider at the time of service if you have selected Medicare as your primary coverage.

If you enroll with Medicare Advantage, keep your red, white, and blue Medicare card secure. You won’t be using it when you want to drop your Medicare Advantage package later. Give your suppliers your Advantage card only.

Presenting the Incorrect ID Card to Your Provider – Part 2

The second version of “ID card errors” that we frequently see happening is that applicants show their Medicare card for drug-related expenses, or vice versa, their Part D card for non-drug-related expenses. 

Paying Your Part B Deduction to Your Insurer Before Medicare Has Processed the Claim

In 2020, Medicare Part B has a deductible of $198. In most years, this goes up a little bit. There are some common plans for Medigap, such as Plan G and Plan N, where you agree to pay the annual deductible for Part B.

Wishful Thoughts from Preventive Treatment 

A range of excellent preventive care benefits for Medicare are entirely covered. Medicare rewards you for 100% of them. This covers cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and aneurysm screenings. Popular cancer tests include colonoscopy, mammograms, and testing for lung cancer.

Failure to Check Your Annual Adjustment Notice

We run a series of webinars about the upcoming Annual Election Cycle for our current customers every year in the fall. All our existing customers are invited, and we advertise it ahead of time via email. The explanation that we’re giving so far is easy. People forget what they’re supposed to do under their drug plan each year.

To conclude, although Medicare errors occur, the tips in this post can help you avoid the most common issues. Because even the most trained individual might experience hiccups, partnering with an insurance provider who knows what they are doing regarding Medicare is in your interest.

Reach out Today at NewMedicare.

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About Gregory Whitfield

For over a decade, my professional compass has been guided by a single mission: to demystify Medicare for Americans navigating this critical crossroads. My expertise is built on a foundation of rigorously analyzing and comparing plans, with a particular focus on helping individuals find the best Medicare Advantage plans that align with their healthcare needs and lifestyles. This deep, practical knowledge extends across key states, where I have developed specialized insight into local market variations—from the dense provider networks of Florida and California to the unique considerations for seniors in Arizona and Colorado. My writing translates complex coverage details, enrollment periods, and cost structures into clear, actionable guidance. I am committed to providing readers with the authoritative and up-to-date information necessary to make confident decisions about their Medicare coverage, whether they are in Alabama exploring supplemental options or in Delaware evaluating Part D plans. My work is dedicated to ensuring that you have a trusted resource in the often overwhelming landscape of Medicare choices.

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