INSURANCE

Q: How do I pay for my Medicare Part B premiums?

A: The easiest way to pay your Medicare Part B premiums is for it to be deducted from your monthly Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefit payments.

If you are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will be billed monthly and you will be responsible for paying your premiums using one of the following five options. 1. Pay by check or money order by mailing your Medicare premium payments to: Medicare Premium Collection Center P.O. Box 790355 St. Louis, MO 63179-0355 2. Pay by credit or debit card. You complete the bottom portion of the payment coupon on your Medicare bill and mail it to the Medicare Premium Collection Center address listed above. You will need to provide the account information and expiration date as it appears on your card. 3. Set up online banking. Contact your bank or go to their website to set up online bill payment services. You will need to provide your bank with your Medicare account number, your monthly premium, the biller name which will be CMS Medicare Insurance, and a remittance address which will be the same address listed above for payment by check or credit card.

4. Sign up for Medicare Easy-Pay. Easy-Pay is a free service that automatically deducts your premium payments from your savings or checking account each month. You will need to complete an authorization form available online at www.Medicare.gov. Mail the completed Authorization form to: Medicare Premium Collection Center PO Box 979098 St. Louis, MO 63197-9000 5. If you are billed by the Railroad Retirement Board, mail your premium payments to: RRB, Medicare Premium Payments P.O. Box 979024 St. Louis, MO 63197-9000 Please keep in mind that you risk losing your Medicare benefits if you fail to pay your premiums. If your premium is late you will get a Second Notice. If you don’t pay the premium by the due date for the Second Notice, you’ll get a Delinquent Notice. If you get a Delinquent Notice and you don’t pay your premium by the 25th of the month, you’ll lose your Medicare coverage.

If you have questions concerning your Medicare premium payments call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. For all your insurance questions including Life, Health, Vision, Hearing or Medicare Advantage Plans, contact me at 440-2555700 or Lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com. Laura Mutsko Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC 6966 Spinach Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-5700 www.mutskoinsurance.com