When entering Medicare, it’s very important to give yourself time to make a plan. Too many people lose track of time and find out they have to enroll right away; in this case, they don’t have enough time to make a good plan. To help you stay ahead of the curve, read this little article on Missouri Medicare eligibility requirements for 2022.

Missouri Medicare Eligibility For Parts A And B

It’s very helpful to know as much as possible about the basics of Medicare eligibility and entry. That way you’ll know for sure when you’re going to enter the program. You need to also keep in mind that Part A and B, which are known as Original Medicare, are the bedrock of your coverage. Any private option you add will be built on Part A and B.

So, when will you enter Part A and B? It depends. While most people get to enter Medicare when they turn 65, there may be times when you enter early, or late, depending on your circumstances.

You’ll enter Medicare early (before age 65) if you qualify to do so because of certain disability statuses or illness diagnoses.

While many people do get into Medicare early because of these conditions, it’s most likely that you’ll have your first chance to enroll at age 65. When this happens, you’ll have a seven month opportunity to sign up for Part A and B if you’re not automatically enrolled.

You can sign up at any time during your seven month enrollment window. If for some reason you miss this window, you might be subject to late enrollment penalties. This is another reason why it’s important to keep up to date on the eligibility and entry rules.

While you’ll likely have your first chance to enroll when you turn 65, you might decide to delay your enrollment, especially into Part B. You’d do this if you decide to keep working past age 65 and you have qualifying employer coverage. When your employment or employer coverage ends, you’ll have the chance to enroll in Part B.

Your initial eligibility window is also the time when you’ll be able to enroll in a private plan like Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, or Prescription Drug plan.

Missouri Medicare Eligibility For Private Plans

While most people add some kind of private coverage, the specific option you choose will vary based on your unique circumstances. That being said, most people take one of two approaches:

• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MAPD)
• Enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan and also add a standalone Part D prescription drug plan

To enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll have to be actively enrolled in both Part A and Part B of Original Medicare. There is no age-based regulation, so you can get this coverage even if you enter Medicare early due to disability or illness.

If you want to enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan under Part D, the rules are even simpler. You only have to be enrolled in Part A or Part B, not both. You can be any age.

There are no federal regulations governing Medicare Supplement Insurance for people under age 65. Some states have passed their own legislation requiring insurance companies to offer this coverage and some have not. Missouri is one of the states that require insurance companies to offer Medicare Supplement Insurance to all Medicare beneficiaries, even those who enter Part A and Part B early. This means that no matter what age you are when you meet the Missouri Medicare eligibility requirements, you’ll have access to all of the private options available.