Medicare Information

Information about Medicare for railroad workers and their families

Palmetto GBA, RRB's Medicare Carrier

• About Railroad Medicare
• Telephone Inquires - If you have questions about your Railroad Medicare Part B claim, you may call the Palmetto GBA toll-free Customer Service Unit at (800) 833-4455, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. for all time zones with the exception of PST, which receives service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  
  For the hearing impaired, call TTY/TDD at (877) 566-3572. This line is for the hearing impaired with the appropriate dial-up service and is available during the same hours Customer Service Representatives are available.
  
  Spanish inquiries can be directed to (800) 833-4455.

Medicare Premium Information

• Part A Deductible and Part B Premium Amounts
• Withholding Medicare Part C and Part D Premiums - Beginning with Medicare premiums due for June 2011, the RRB is able to withhold premiums for Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) and Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans) from benefit payments.  Beneficiaries should contact their plans to request withholding of these premiums from their monthly benefit payment.
  
  Part C and Part D premiums vary according to the plan and provider. Effective January 2011, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires some Part D beneficiaries to also pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), depending on a beneficiary's or married couple's modified adjusted gross income. Currently, Part D beneficiaries pay the regular premium to their Part D plan and the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) directly to the RRB.
  
  While the RRB will now be able to deduct the regular Part D premiums for individuals who elect to have them withheld from their benefit payments, Part D enrollees subject to the IRMAA will continue to receive a separate bill for that portion from the RRB, because the agency is unable to deduct those amounts from benefits at this time.
• Annual Enrollment Period Reminder - In accordance with information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), beginning in the fall of 2011, the annual enrollment period for Part C and Part D coverage will begin and end earlier. Effective this year, the annual enrollment period will be from October 15 to December 7; previously, it ran from November 15 to December 31. However, changes and enrollments made during this period will still be effective on January 1 of the following year.
• Medicare Part D IRMAA - Starting January 1, 2011, the Medicare Part D Monthly premium could be higher based on a beneficiary's income. This includes Part D coverage received from a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage, or a Medicare Cost Plan that includes prescription drug coverage.
  
  If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago was more than $85,000 (individuals and married individuals filing separately) and $170,000 (married individuals filing jointly), you will have to pay an extra amount for your Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. This extra amount is called the income-related adjustment amount. You will have to pay this extra amount in addition to your monthly Part D plan Premium.
• Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Frequently Asked Questions

Information from Medicare.gov

• Help to Pay Your Health Care Costs
• Medicare Premiums
• Medicare.gov Publications
• Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) Available Online
• Medicare & You
  (Summary of Medicare benefits, rights and obligations, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare)
• Help with Prescription Drug Costs

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