Original Medicare is the basis for most Americans’ health insurance in retirement. Part of getting the most out of the benefits provided by Medicare is to make a plan for your coverage. You’ll want to make your plan as far out from your Medicare entry date as possible. To do that, you need to know when your entry date will be. In this article we’ll review the New Hampshire Medicare eligibility rules.

New Hampshire Medicare Eligibility Regulations And Restrictions

Original Medicare is split into two different segments known as Part A and Part B. Part A provides hospital insurance and Part B gives you medical insurance. The eligibility provisions for both of the Parts are the same. You are eligible to participate in Parts A and B if you’re a citizen of the United States, or if you’re a permanent legal resident.

People eligible for Medicare have to wait until certain life events trigger their entry into Parts A and B. The most common trigger to entry is turning 65 years old. For those who qualify by turning 65, you’ll need to know whether you’ll enter Medicare automatically or not. Your enrollment should be automatic if you’ve decided to claim your Social Security retirement benefits at or before age 65. In this case, you should receive your Medicare card several months before your 65th birthday.

If you don’t claim Social Security on or before your 65th birthday, you’ll have the option to manually enroll. You can sign up for Medicare online or in person at a Social Security office. You can do this at any point during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Your IEP will begin three months before the month you turn 65; it will end at the end of the third month after you turn 65.

You also have the right to delay taking your Part B benefit. You can do this if you’ll keep working and remain covered by your employer plan. Note that you can only do this if your employer has more than 20 employees. You’ll probably need to enroll in Part A even if you keep working.

New Hampshire Medicare Eligibility For Private Insurance Plans

Since there are a number of gaps in Medicare (costs you’re expected to pay out of pocket), many people choose to add at least one private Medicare Insurance plan. One of the most common strategies is to add Medicare Supplement Insurance and a Part D prescription drug plan to Original Medicare.

To be eligible for the Part D drug plan, you have to be enrolled in Original Medicare. That’s the only requirement. There are no age restrictions besides the basic New Hampshire Medicare eligibility rules.

To get Medicare Supplement Insurance in New Hampshire, you have to be active in both Part A and B. While there is no minimum age restriction in New Hampshire, you might find it difficult to get coverage if you’re younger than 65. The premiums for people under 65 in New Hampshire, and most other states, are quite high. If you enter Medicare early in New Hampshire, it might make more financial sense for you to try a Medicare Advantage plan until you turn 65. Once you turn 65, you’ll have a guaranteed enrollment period during which you can sign up for Medicare Supplement Insurance with much more affordable premiums.