Description

Medicare & NYSHIP

Are you becoming eligible for Medicare due to turning 65, disability, or a diagnosis of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)? This page has information about how your Medicare benefits will work with your NYSHIP coverage.*

Medicare becomes your primary insurer when you are eligible for Medicare and enrolled in NYSHIP as a retiree, vestee, dependent survivor, or are covered under Preferred List provisions. To coordinate Medicare with your NYSHIP benefits, you should make sure that you:

• Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to enroll in Medicare three months before your birthday month. Visit https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices or call 1-800-772-1213.
• Enroll in Medicare Parts A and B (be sure not to decline Part B).
• If you are eligible for Medicare before age 65, you must notify the Employee Benefits Division that you have enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and provide a copy of your Medicare card.
• Do not sign up for any non-NYSHIP Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription plan.

To help you remember to enroll in Medicare, NYSHIP will send you a letter and Medicare information packet a few months before your 65^th birthday.

*Some people confuse Medicare with Medicaid. Both are administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income persons of any age, is jointly funded by federal and state governments, and usually administered at the county or local level. Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the federal government to individuals over age 65 or who are eligible due to disability.