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Dear Savvy Senior,

I am a healthy 64-years-old who wants to know and if when I have to actually signup for Medicare or is it automatically done for me? Since my husband died last year, I don’t keep up with these things very well and find this Medicare stuff hard to digest. Can you make it simple for this Medi-challenged woman?

Thank you

Medi-challenged Martha

Dear Martha,

No worries! Medicare enrollment is a pretty simple process, even for the Medi-challenged. Without knowing your specific Social Security status, here is the general Medicare enrollment rundown:

Are you eligible?

Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medi-care-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. You might also qualify for coverage if you are a younger person with a disability.

Medicare Has Two Parts

• Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), which helps pay for care in hospital and skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice care. Most people do not have to pay for Medicare Part A.

• Medicare Part B (medical insurance), which helps pay for doctors, outpatient hospital care and other medical services. Most people pay ($58.70 per month in 2003) for Medicare Part B.

Medicare Enrollment

Depending on your situation, here are your op-tions for signing up for Medicare Part A & B if you are close to age 65 and get, or can get, Social Security benefits.

• If you already get Social Security benefit:

You will not need to do anything. Simple enough! You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B effective the month you turn 65. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If you do not want Medi-care Part B coverage (because, for example you are still working and are covered by an employment-related plan) follow the instructions on the form that come with the card.

Savvy Tip:

If you do not receive your Medicare card in the mail within a month of your 65th birthday call 1-800-772-1213.

• If you want to apply for both Social Security and Medicare:

If you are close to age 65 and not yet getting Social Security benefits or Medicare, you will need to actually apply, and you can do both at the same time if you choose. To make sure that your Medicare Part B coverage start date is not delayed, you should apply three months before the month you turn 65. This is the begging of your seven month Initial Enrollment Period. If you wait until you are 65, or in the last three months of your Initial Enrollment Period, your Medicare Part B coverage start date will be delayed.

• If you do not yet get Social Security benefits:

If you are close to age 65 and not getting Social Security benefits, you must apply for Medicare. Again, you should apply three months before the month you turn 65. If you wait until you are 65, or in the last three months of your Initial Enrollment Period, your Medicare Part B coverage start date will be delayed.

How To Apply

To apply, you can call or visit your local Social Security office or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. You can also apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov if you meet certain rules. However you currently cannot apply for Medicare only online (using the Internet).

Don’t Delay

Signing up on time is important for two reasons. First, it will ensure that your coverage begins as soon as you are eligible, on your 65th birthday. Second, if you wait more than three months after your 65th birthday to enroll, you will not be allowed to enroll in Part B until the following General Enrollment Periods (between January I and March 3 1), and your eligibility will not begin until July 1 of that year. Also, your Medicare Part B premium may go up 10 percent for each 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B, but did not take it.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org.