Find out if you qualify for Medicare.
Registering for Medicare in California is the same as in all states. You can assist an applicant in registering for Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration's website offers valuable information to assist you in the process. When helping an applicant complete an Medicare application, you must provide identifying information about the applicant, so be sure to have him nearby or have a way of contacting him.
Instructions
1. Explain that Medicare has four parts. For example, Medicare Part A covers hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice care, and Medicare Part B, covers doctor, outpatient hospital care and other medical services. Frequently, enrollees do not have to pay for Medicare Part A; however, Medicare Part B is typically a fee-based program.
2. Have the applicant register within the initial enrollment period. The enrollment period for Parts A and B is seven months, starting three months before an applicant qualifies for eligibility, according to California Health Advocates. An application qualifies for Medicare benefits at the age of 65 years old.
3. Complete a Medicare Benefit Application (see Resources). Instruct the applicant to have her Social Security card handy if she does not know the number by memory.
Select the option, "I am helping someone who wants to apply for benefits and is with me." Complete the Medicare Benefits Application with the applicant's full legal name, date of birth and contact information, and list any known disabilities.
4. Help a blind or visually impaired applicant by navigating the Social Security Administration (SSA) website or setting up assistive technologies such as screen readers or screen magnifiers, if you cannot perform these duties yourself. The SSA recommends screen readers such as JAWS, Supernova and Window-Eyes.
5. Contact a local Social Security Administration office if the applicant has questions you cannot answer. A Social Security Administration District office is available in Sacramento, California. Locate additional offices on the Social Security Administration's website.
Social Security Administration District
8351 Folsom Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95826
916-381-9410
6. Submit your Benefit Application electronically. Once you reach the Submit tab on your electronic Benefit Application, the system will direct you to submit your application for review. Provide an electronic signature and date your applciation at this time.
Proceed to the Next Steps tab for further instructions on follow-up on the status of your application.
Tags: Social Security, Security Administration, Social Security Administration, Medicare Part, Administration website, Benefit Application
