Policy and Systems

Medicare & You Booklet

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The Medicare & You booklet contains a summary of Medicare benefits, rights and obligations, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare. You can download a copy or request an electronic version by clicking the link above.

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Medicare.gov Publications

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Visit Medicare.gov/publications to view, print, or download copies of publications on different Medicare topics.

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Annual Enrollment Period

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The enrollment period for Medicare Part C and Part D coverage is from October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes and enrollments made during this period will be effective on January 1 of the following year.

During this time you can:

Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

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Additional Form For Disabled Children

If your family group includes a disabled child age 18 or older, you are also required to complete Form AA-19A, " Application for Determination of Child Disability" . Booklet RB-19A, " Child Disability Benefits" explains this form and also provides information about Medicare coverage for a disabled child.

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Form To Include Spouse And/Or Children

Form G-319, "Statement Regarding Family and Earnings for Special Guaranty Computation" , is to be completed by both you and your spouse to provide information about children, earnings, receipt of social security benefits, and spouse entitlement to a public service pension. This information is needed to determine if your spouse and/or any children can be included in the Special Guaranty computation of your annuity.

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Applying For Your Special Guaranty Increase

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Full-Time Students

Children can be included in the Special Guaranty as full-time students if they are age 18 through age 19 and in full-time school attendance in elementary or secondary school. Children are in full-time school attendance if they are participating in a course of study lasting at least 13 weeks for at least 20 hours per week. These courses may be at educational institutions or by home schooling approved by the states in which the students live.

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Disabled Children

Children can be included in the Special Guaranty at age 18, or older, if they have a permanent disability that began before they attained age 22 that makes them unable to perform any type of regular employment.

The RRB will require medical evidence of their disability when these children attain age 18.

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Definition of Unmarried Child

The minor children, disabled children, or students must be unmarried to be included in the Special Guaranty computation. They are unmarried if:

they have never been married; or,
they were married before the Special Guaranty computation became payable and that marriage ended by death, divorce, or annulment.

If minor children or students marry after being included in the Special Guaranty computation, their entitlement will end. They will never again be eligible to be included in the Special Guaranty computation.

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Eligible Children

The term "children" means your dependent and unmarried: natural children, adopted children, stepchildren, or, under certain conditions, your grandchildren whose parents are deceased or disabled. Children may be included in the Special Guaranty computation if they are:

under age 18;
age 18 or older and qualify as disabled children; or,
age 18-19 and qualify as full-time students.

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