If a retired employee or a family member is receiving a railroad retirement annuity, enrollment for both hospital and medical insurance is generally automatic and coverage begins when the person reaches age 65. For beneficiaries who are totally and permanently disabled, Medicare hospital and medical insurance starts automatically with the 30th month after the beneficiary became disabled or, if later, the 25th month after the beneficiary became entitled to monthly benefits. Even though enrollment is automatic, an individual may decline medical insurance, if so desired; this does not prevent him or her from applying for medical insurance at a later date. However, premiums may be higher if enrollment is delayed.
If an individual is eligible for but not receiving an annuity, he or she should contact the nearest RRB office before attaining age 65 and apply for both hospital and medical insurance. (This does not mean that the individual must retire if presently working.) The best time to apply is during the 3 months before the month in which the individual reaches age 65. He or she will then have both hospital and medical insurance protection beginning with the month age 65 is reached. If the individual does not enroll for medical insurance in the 3 months before attaining age 65, he or she can enroll in the month age 65 is reached or during the next 3 months, but there will be a delay of 1 to 3 months before medical insurance is effective. Individuals who do not enroll during this initial enrollment period may sign up in any general enrollment period (January 1 - March 31 each year). Coverage for such individuals begins July 1 of the year of enrollment.
Premiums for medical insurance are increased 10 percent for each 12-month period the individual could have been, but was not, enrolled. However, individuals age 65 or older who wait to enroll in Part B because they have group health plan coverage based on their own or their spouse's current employment may not have to pay higher premiums because they may be eligible for a special enrollment period. The same special enrollment period rules apply to disabled individuals, except that the group health insurance may be based on the current employment of the individual, his or her spouse, or a family member.
Individuals deciding when to enroll in Medicare Part B must consider how this will affect eligibility for health insurance policies which supplement Medicare coverage. These include Medigap insurance and prescription drug coverage and are explained later in this section.
For information on coverage for kidney disease, a social security office should be contacted.