Octubre - Noviembre 2026

• SOCIAL SECURITY
• SOCIAL SECURITY
• Questions & Answers
• Evelyn Linares

Public Affairs Specialist South Florida Area Director’s Office

How many parts does Medicare have and which are they? Part A (hospital insurance):Hospital insurance helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay), some home health care and hospice care. The other three parts of Medicare require premium payments, and if you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have coverage. Also, you may have to wait to enro ll, which will delay coverage. Part B (medical insurance):Medical insurance helps pay for doctors’services and many other medical services and supplies that hospital insurance does not cover. Part C (Medicare Advantage plans):If you have Medicare Parts A and B, you can join a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare. These plans generally help you pay the medical costs not covered by Medicare Part A and B. Part D (prescription drug coverage):Prescription drug coverage helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment.

If you don’t get Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65thbirthday. The easiest way to apply for Medicare is by using our online application. If you don’t wish to apply online, make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325- 0778), 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Important Information about Medical Insurance (Part B) Coverage Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down. However, if you decide to sign up for Part B later, your coverage can be delayed and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Your monthly premium will go up 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but didn’t sign up for it unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.

What are considered as Medicare late enrollment penalties?

In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium. Example: If you were eligible for Part A for 2 years but didn’t sign up, you’ll have to pay the higher premium for 4 years. Usually, you don’t have to pay a penalty if you meet certain conditions that allow you to sign up for Part A during aspecial enrollment period.

How can I apply for Social Security disability benefits? Social Security offers an online disability application. Applying online for disability benefits offers several advantages: You can start your disability claim immediately. There is no need to wait for an appointment; You can apply from the convenience of your home, or on any computer; and You can avoid trips to a Social Security office, saving you time and money. Other ways to apply: Call1-800-772-1213 (TTY1-800-325-

0778), Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm; or Contact your local Social Security office.

I am receiving worker’s compensation, can my disability benefits be affected? If you get either workers’compensation or public disability benefit payments, we may reduce Social Security benefits for you and your family. Workers get workers’compensation benefit payments because of job-related injuries or illnesses. Federal or state workers’compensation agencies, employers or insurance companies pay workers’compensation on behalf of employers. Public disability benefit payments paid under a federal, state or local government law may affect your Social Security benefit. This includes civil service disability benefits, temporary state disability benefits, and state or local government retirement benefits based on disability.Disability payments from private sources, such as a private pension or insurance benefits, do not affect your Social Security disability benefits. We reduce the Social Security disability benefits you and your family get if the combined total amount, plus your workers’compensation payment, plus any public disability payment you get, exceeds 80 percent of your average ear nings before you became injured or ill.

I need to sign up for Medicare, how can I do that? If you already get Social Security benefits, we’ll automatically enroll you in Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B). We’ll mail you all the information you need a few months before you be come eligible. Note: Residents of Puerto Rico or foreign countries won’t automatically receive Part B. They must elect this benefit.

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