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11-07-2020 05:18 PM
Ah well, figured I couldn't know more than you 😂
Back when I did all this, I defaulted to automatic. I can't get an ebill for my property tax either. Drives me crazy.
I did learn the hard way that once the EMTs take you away, the bills still need doing.
Good luck with the phone tree.
11-07-2020 05:20 PM
A reminder of ways to save on the Part B premiums from medicare. gov
You can get help from your state paying your Medicare premiums. In some cases, Medicare Savings Programs may also pay Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments if you meet certain conditions. These conditions are listed below under "How do I apply for Medicare Savings Programs?"
4 kinds of Medicare Savings ProgramsSelect a program name below for details about each Medicare Savings Program. If you have income from working, you still may qualify for these 4 programs even if your income is higher than the income limits listed for each program.
QMB income & resource limits in 2020:
$1,084
Married couple monthly income limit*$1,457
*Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. If you have income from working, you may qualify for benefits even if your income is higher than the limits listed.
Individual resource limit$7,860
Married couple resource limit$11,800
Program helps pay for:Note
If you’re eligible, the QMB Program helps pay for Part A and/or Part B premiums. Medicare providers aren’t allowed to bill you for services and items Medicare covers, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, except outpatient prescription drugs. Pharmacists may charge you up to a limited amount (no more than $3.90 in 2020) for prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D.
If you get a bill for these charges, tell your provider or the debt collector that you’re in the QMB Program and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If you’ve already made payments on a bill for services and items Medicare covers, you have the right to a refund. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you should also contact the plan to ask them to stop the charges.
The SLMB Program is a state program that helps pay Part B premiums for people who have Part A and limited income and resources.
SLMB income & resource limits in 2020: Individual monthly income limit*$1,296
Married couple monthly income limit*$1,744
*Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. If you have income from working, you may qualify for benefits even if your income is higher than the limits listed.
Individual resource limit$7,860
Married couple resource limit$11,800
Program helps pay for:Part B premiums only
expandQualifying Individual (QI) Program
The QI Program is a state program that helps pay Part B premiums for people who have Part A and limited income and resources. You must apply every year for QI benefits. QI applications are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to people who got QI benefits the previous year. (You can't get QI benefits if you qualify for Medicaid).
$1,456
Married couple monthly income limit*$1,960
*Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. If you have income from working, you may qualify for benefits even if your income is higher than the limits listed.
Individual resource limit$7,860
Married couple resource limit$11,800
Program helps pay for:Part B premiums only
If you qualify for the QMB program, SLMB, or QI program, you automatically qualify to get Extra Help paying for Medicare drug coverage.
NoteThese amounts may increase each year. If your income and resources are slightly higher, you should still apply. |
What items are included in the Medicare Savings Program resource limits?
Countable resources include:
Countable resources don't include:
If you answer yes to these 3 questions, call your State Medicaid Program to see if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program in your state:
It's important to call or fill out an application if you think you could qualify for savings—even if your income or resources are higher than the amounts listed here.
11-07-2020 05:31 PM - edited 11-07-2020 05:36 PM
@SilleeMee @here's your answer, sort of. If you do this you won't get a paper bill anymore but you will get a paper statement.
Medicare Easy Pay is a free, electronic payment option that lets you have Medicare premium payments automatically deducted from a savings or checking account each month.
Who can sign up for Medicare Easy Pay?Anyone who gets a bill for their Medicare premiums from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can sign up for Easy Pay at any time.
How do I sign up for Medicare Easy Pay?Fill out the Authorization Agreement for Pre-authorized Payments form (SF-5510) as a PDF in English or HTML in English. You can also get the SF-5510 as a PDF form in Spanish or HMTL form in Spanish. Mail your completed SF-5510 to:
Medicare Premium Collection Center
PO Box 979098
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000
What happens once I sign up?
It can take 6-8 weeks to process your form after we get it. If we can’t process your form, we’ll return your form to you with a letter explaining why.
After your form is processed, two things will happen each month:
We’ll try to only deduct your premium once each month. If your bank rejects or returns your premium deduction, we’ll send you a letter with instructions on how to make a direct payment to Medicare.
Do I need to do anything when my premium amount changes?No, we'll automatically deduct the new premium amount from your bank account.
What if I want to change bank accounts or stop Medicare Easy Pay?Complete another Authorization Agreement for Pre-authorized Payments form [PDF, 117 KB] (SF-5510), and let us know the type of change you want to make. Mail the completed form to the Medicare Premium Collection Center address above.
11-07-2020 05:41 PM
I also receive paper bills. I pay with my Discover card so I can earn cash back rewards. My sister retired from CMS. I sent her a text to ask if she knows why there's no paperless billing option. If she has an answer I'll let you know.
11-07-2020 05:43 PM
Thanks @Mindy D . As I mentioned earlier, I don't want the premium to be automatically debited from my bank account. I want to eliminate the paper bill and not change the methods of payment I have as an option there. I have a hunch that MC's electronic system is antiquated and not capable of doing ebilling....just a guess.
11-07-2020 05:44 PM
@SilleeMee Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
If you have limited income and resources, you can get help from your state paying some or all of your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. Learn more about Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)opens a new tab.
Choose a state to view the state's MSP website
11-07-2020 05:46 PM
@Caffeina wrote:
I also receive paper bills. I pay with my Discover card so I can earn cash back rewards. My sister retired from CMS. I sent her a text to ask if she knows why there's no paperless billing option. If she has an answer I'll let you know.
Thank you so much! That's exactly how I pay, too, so I can get the cash-back rewards. I hope your sister has an answer. That would be great!
11-07-2020 05:50 PM
@SilleeMee I have this situation with my trash collection. I set up automatic online payment. After the first payment, I then received a paper bill a few days later, looking as though I still owed the balance. I called them and was told there was no way to change this and to just discard the paper bills. What a waste of time and paper. I thought online was for efficiency. It might be the same with the Part B payment.
11-07-2020 05:55 PM
My income falls above most any of the limits set for state financial assistance...I already checked that out. Thanks. One of the specialists told me that with my income level I fall into what they call 'The Gap' where my income is too high to qualify for Medicaid yet not enough to pay for health insurance w/o having to make financial sacrifices elsewhere....it's sort of a bummer.
11-07-2020 05:55 PM
@SilleeMee wrote:Thanks @Mindy D . As I mentioned earlier, I don't want the premium to be automatically debited from my bank account. I want to eliminate the paper bill and not change the methods of payment I have as an option there. I have a hunch that MC's electronic system is antiquated and not capable of doing ebilling....just a guess.
@SilleeMee @So far, I can't find anything that says Medicare will ebill you. Antiquated is an understatement. My niece is deaf and she was pregnant. She's had her baby. Nothing on the entire site for pregnant SSDI recipients with questions about pregnancy coverage and other questions. Plenty of information for older recipients with other ailments. Medicare just left out all the younger beneficiaries with their needs from their website. Maybe you could set up Medicare as a payee at your bank and set that to have the bill sent to the bank automatically. Then all you have to do is look at your bank's website for the modified "ebill" and write a check to them instead of using the bank to pay them. The e records would be stored with your other bills. I know Chase can do this. I can set it up to have bills sent to them. Then I can pay the bills through Chase, but I don't have to pay them this way.
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