What is Medicare Easy Pay?
Medicare Easy Pay is a free option for paying your Medicare Part A or Part B monthly premium. This service will automatically deduct your payment from your checking or savings account. Knowing your insurance is automatically paid can bring you comfort, knowing you’ll receive uninterrupted healthcare coverage.
Easy Pay is an official service offered by Medicare.gov and not a third party. You can sign up online or print out the paperwork and mail it in to begin your deductions. It takes several weeks for automatic deductions to start, so keeping an eye on your bank statement to track withdrawals is a good idea.
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The Convenience of Medicare Easy Pay
If you’re tired of worrying about whether you’ve paid your Medicare premiums — or maybe the thought of writing a check and mailing it seems daunting — then Medicare Easy Pay may be a good option for you.
This service offers a convenient way to pay your Medicare Part B and Medicare Part A monthly premiums. Anyone who has Original Medicare can sign up for this free service and automate their payments. With automatic monthly payments, you no longer have to remember to send in your monthly premium anymore as it will be deducted monthly.
How Does Medicare Easy Pay Work?
If you have Original Medicare, you might be a good candidate for this service. It automatically makes your monthly Medicare Part A and Part B premium payments from the savings or checking account of your choice.
Most people with Original Medicare do not pay for Part A, but some do. Anyone who has worked and paid Medicare taxes for 40 quarters or more is eligible for Part A Medicare coverage without a fee. Medicare Part B is a little different, and this coverage has a monthly fee. Part B premiums are based on income, but the standard monthly fee for enrollees in 2023 is $164.90.
Easy Pay is only available for Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare Part D, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage premiums are not included.
Who Can Use Medicare Easy Pay?
Medicare Easy Pay is for anyone who has Original Medicare. It’s not available if you have Medicare Advantage. Additionally, it will not be applied to your Medigap or Medicare Part D premiums. You can use Easy Pay if you receive a monthly bill from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for your Part A and/or Part B insurance coverage.
If you receive a bill for your Original Medicare coverage from the Railroad Retirement Board, you will not be eligible, and you’ll still be required to submit your payments to the RRB Medicare Premium Payments department.
Advantages of Medicare Easy Pay
The most significant advantage of Medicare Easy Pay is that it happens automatically each month. You do not have to worry about making the monthly payment or having your insurance lapse if you forget or cannot make a payment.
Easy Pay is just that; it’s an easy way to pay your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums. It requires a one-time sign-up, and the payments will then be taken from your account on or around the 20th of each month.
Disadvantages of Medicare Easy Pay
One disadvantage of this service is it only applies to Medicare Parts A and B. Other Medicare programs, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medigap programs, are provided by private insurance companies and are not included in Easy Pay.
Another possible disadvantage is that you must stay diligent about your finances so you have enough in your account to cover your automatic payments or face overdraft charges.
Paying For Medicare Easy Pay
There are a few options for paying your Medicare Part A and/or Part B monthly premium. It’s a good idea to understand your options and determine whether you want to sign up for this service or not. Easy Pay is a free service, but it’s not a requirement.
From Bank Account
If you want to pay for your Medicare premiums directly from your bank account, you can sign up by mailing in the paperwork or applying online. After a waiting period of six to eight weeks, you’ll begin seeing monthly withdrawals for your Medicare health insurance premiums.
Online
You can make online payments directly through your Medicare account. It’s a free service, and you can select whether you want to pay by credit card, debit card, checking account, or savings account. You can also change how you make your payment each month.
By Mail
Some people prefer to make their Medicare payments through the mail. To do this, you’ll take your monthly bill from Medicare and fill out the payment coupon at the bottom. When you pay by mail, you can pay by check, money order, credit card, or debit card.
Railroad Retirement Board
The Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency that administers the retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit program for railroad workers and their families. Part of their duties is overseeing Medicare benefits for qualifying members.
If you qualify for the RRB, they will collect your Medicare premiums for you. You’ll either mail them to the RRB, or they will collect them from any Railroad Retirement benefits or disability checks you receive.
How To Sign Up for Medicare Easy Pay
To get Medicare Easy Pay, you can go to your Medicare account at Medicare.gov or sign up for an account if you have not already done so. When you’re in our account, go to “My Premiums” and “Sign Up” to join the Medicare Easy Plan. You can also print out the paperwork and mail it in.
The required form is called the Authorization Agreement for Preauthorized Payment form (SF-5510). If you do not have access to the internet or a printer, you can call 1(800) MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and request form SF-5510, and they will mail it to you.
Once you complete the form — whether online or physically — and submit it, it will take six to eight weeks for the automatic withdrawals to happen. Your premiums will be withdrawn on or around the 20th of each month. In addition to seeing your withdrawal in your bank statement, you’ll receive notice from CMS that your payment has been taken.
Can I Stop Medicare Easy Pay?
When you sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, you’re not tied in indefinitely. You can change your payment method or stop the service. Cancelling the service is similar to signing up. You go into your Medicare account, find the “My Premiums” section and change your payment method.
If you want to mail in a form, you’ll need another SF-5510 to make the change. Once again, you can find that agreement online at Medicare.gov, or you can call 1(800) MEDICARE and ask to
have the form mailed to you.
Once you have completed the form and indicated what change you want to take place, you’ll send it back to Medicare. Expect it to take another six to eight weeks for that change to be implemented.
Alternatives
Other organizations are designed to help with healthcare premiums if you’re having trouble making the payments. Consider reaching out to the appropriate organization for more information.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state-run program designed to help with health insurance expenses for people with a limited income. Your state will pay your Medicare Part B monthly premiums if you’re eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid may pay your other Medicare costs; it depends on what state you live in. Patients with Medicaid also get get extra help paying for prescription medication.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal income supplement program for aged, blind, and disabled people with little or no income. If you have SSI and are eligible for Medicaid, your state will pay your Medicare premiums.
If you have SSI and Medicare, you’re also eligible for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
Medicare savings programs (MSPs) are also state-based programs that help pay out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, which can include copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for Medicare Part A and B. Contact your state Medicaid department to see if you qualify and how to set up an MSP.
All in All
In conclusion, Medicare Easy Pay offers a convenient and worry-free method for paying Medicare Part A and Part B premiums. By automating the payment process, individuals can ensure uninterrupted healthcare coverage without the hassle of manual payments.
While Easy Pay is limited to Parts A and B and requires vigilance to avoid overdraft charges, its advantages outweigh the disadvantages for many Original Medicare beneficiaries. If desired, individuals can easily stop or change their payment method by accessing their Medicare account online or contacting Medicare directly. Alternatively, those facing financial difficulties may explore assistance programs such as Medicaid, SSI, or Medicare Savings Programs to alleviate healthcare premium costs.