ERS’ 5 most common FAQs about Medicare

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The thought of enrolling in Medicare can be overwhelming once you near the age of eligibility, but it doesn’t have to be. ERS offers a Medicare Preparation presentation that can help you better understand how Medicare works with your Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) health insurance. You can download or watch the ERS Medicare Preparation presentation.

Register for a live Medicare Preparation webinar and see a schedule of in-person presentations. Attending a live event will allow you to get answers to your questions in real time.

Here the answers to some of our most commonly asked questions about Medicare:

Q: When do I enroll in Medicare?

A: If you’re a retiree not yet receiving Social Security benefits or disability benefits, you can enroll in Medicare the three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday or the three months after your 65th birthday. If you’re already receiving your Social Security benefits, you’ll be automatically enrolled.

If you haven’t returned to work and don’t have employer-provided health insurance as an active employee, you should enroll in Medicare Part A and B as soon as you’re eligible, to prevent much higher out-of-pocket costs for yourself and avoid a permanent increase in your federal Medicare premium.

Q: Does the state pay for my Medicare premium?

A: No. You will pay your Medicare premium each month to the Social Security Administration. You can set up payment withdrawal from a bank account or you can mail a payment to the Social Security Administration. If you are already receiving your Social Security benefit, the premium will be automatically deducted from your monthly benefit.

Q: Will the state pay for my GBP health insurance?

A: The state pays at least part of your health insurance premium if you are enrolled in a GBP plan. How much the state pays depends on your years of service at retirement.

Q: What do I do after I enroll in Medicare?

A: Once you get your Medicare card in the mail, give ERS a call and provide us with your Medicare information. You will have the option of enrolling in our HealthSelect Medicare^SM Advantage Plan currently administered by UnitedHealthcare or our HealthSelect^SM Secondary Plan currently administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

Q: What about prescription drug coverage?

A: When we have your Medicare information and enroll you in your chosen medical plan, we also will enroll you in the HealthSelect^SM Medicare Rx prescription drug plan administered by Express Scripts Medicare.