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Baylor BU Human Resources Benefits & Advantages Retirement Preparing for Your Retirement Retiree Insurance Details Medicare Basic Information
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Medicare Basic Information

Starting Medicare Benefits

  • If you are not currently receiving Social Security retirement benefits, you should sign up for Medicare Plans (A & B) approximately 3 months prior to your retirement.
  • If you are receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you are already qualified, and Part A (Hospital Insurance) starts automatically.
  • Part B (Medical Insurance) is an optional program with a monthly cost. Almost anyone who is eligible for Part A can sign up for Part B. link to special enrollment period.
  • Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) is another optional program that requires your enrollment in both Parts A and B. You might have to pay an additional monthly premium for Part C because of the extra benefits the Medicare Advantage plan offers.
  • Part D (Prescription Drug Plan) is available to anyone who has Parts A and B, or Part C. This prescription insurance is also optional, and an additional monthly premium is required for the coverage. If you don't enroll in Part D when you are first eligible, you may pay a penalty to enroll at a later date, unless you are enrolled in an employer based plan that provides "creditable coverage" like Baylor does.
  • If you apply for Medicare enrollment online, you may want to indicate that you do not wish to enroll in Medicare Part B at this time if you are currently employed full-time with medical benefits (there should be a comment box on the online form).
  • Enroll by contacting the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov/onlineservices.
  • If you are currently enrolled in a medical plan outside of the Baylor medical plan, you would contact the administrator of your plan to confirm their requirements of your enrollment in Medicare.

Medicare "Creditable Coverage"

Medicare requires employer-sponsored plans to conduct evaluations based on specific criteria to determine if the prescription drug benefit provided is at least as good as the benefit provided under Medicare Part D. If the employer sponsored coverage is at least as good as the Part D benefit, it's considered "creditable coverage."

Baylor's evaluations, according to Medicare guidelines, indicate that Baylor’s prescription drug coverage with CVS/caremark is "creditable coverage."

Medicare Enrollment Penalties

You must enroll in the Medicare plans (A and B) if you/spouse are age 65+ when you retire. Medicare allows an 8-month special enrollment period to allow enrollment without penalty beginning with your retirement date. Medicare becomes your primary insurance carrier the first day of the month following your retirement from Baylor.

To learn more about Medicare penalties, visit www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs.

Social Security Benefits

We encourage those eligible for Social Security benefits to contact the Social Security Administration Office for your area AND to visit the official Social Security website below.

United States Social Security government website

Additional Resources

  • United States Social Security Administration website
  • Full Retirement Age Calculator
  • Understanding Lump Sum Payments

Baylor Human Resources

Putting People First.

Clifton Robinson Tower | Suite 200
700 S University Parks Dr
Waco, TX 76706

One Bear Place #97053
Waco, TX 76798

askhr@baylor.edu
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Baylor BU Human Resources Benefits & Advantages Retirement Preparing for Your Retirement Retiree Insurance Details Medicare Basic Information
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      Back
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    • My Benefits
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      Back
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        Back
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        • Livongo
      • Prescription Drug Plan
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      • Vision Insurance Plan
      • Employer Provided Insurances
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      • Continuation of Insurance Coverage
      • Voluntary Supplemental Insurances
      • Pet Insurance
    • Employee Recognition
      Back
      • 2023 Baylor Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night
      • 2024 Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night
      • Fall Staff Meeting - September 18, 2023
    • Tuition Remission
    • Time Off & Leave Policies
      Back
      • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
      • Maternity and Primary Caregiver Leave
      • Paid Caregiver Leave
      • Paid Parental Leave
      • Timecards During University Closures
    • Employee Caregiver & Family Resources
      Back
      • Adoption Assistance Program
      • Crisis Resources
        Back
        • Mental Health First Aid Course - Testimonials
      • Care.com
      • Spousal Employment Assistance
      • Educational Assistance
      • Expectant & New Parents
      • Progyny
      • Surviving Spouse Benefits
    • Baylor Advantages
      Back
      • Athletic Tickets
      • Baylor Bookstore
      • Baby Bear Program
      • Baylor Club at McLane Stadium
      • Baylor Theatre
      • Baylor Wellbeing
      • BearStand
      • Campus Dining Offerings
      • Campus Recreation
      • Credit Union
      • Dell Store
      • Emotional Wellbeing Solutions
      • Game Room
      • Waco Perks
      • Health Center
      • Martin Museum of Art
      • Massage Therapy
      • Mayborn Museum Complex
      • Parking
      • Personal Cell Phone Discounts
      • Real Appeal
      • School of Music
      • University Libraries
      • Vanguard Prep School Scholarship
    • Benefit Forms
    • Benefitfocus Login
  • Manage & Lead
    Back
    • Getting Started
      Back
      • Core Commitments
      • Leadership Commitments
    • Management Toolkits & Guides
      Back
      • Faculty Performance Process
      • How to Approve Timecards in Ignite
      • Managing Performance Year-Round
      • One on One Resources
      • Performance Helpers
      • Performance Improvement Plan
      • Performance Review Process - Manager Guide
      • Recruiting and Hiring Staff
      • Second-Level Managers: What are they and what do they do?
    • Staff Performance Review Process
    • Additional Resources
      Back
      • Academic Administrative Resource Center
      • Sabbaticals, Research Leaves, and Grants
      • System Instructions & Access Questions
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      • Career Conversations
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      • Tuition Remission
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    • Engage with HR Contacts
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      • askHR
      • HRC - Human Resources Consultants
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      • Talent Advising Contact List
      • Student Employment
      • Faculty Senate and Staff Council
      • Baylor Organizational Chart
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      Back
      • Asian American & Pacific Islander Faculty & Staff Association (AAPIFSA)
      • Black Faculty & Staff Association (BFSA)
      • Disability Faculty and Staff Association (DFSA)
      • Jewish Faculty & Staff Association (JFSA)
      • Latinx Faculty & Staff Association (LFSA)
      • Military-Connected Faculty & Staff Association (MCFSA)
    • Policies & Postings
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      • Fraud alert: Unemployment Claims and Identity Theft
      • Required Annual Notices
      • State Employment Law Postings
    • Giving
    • How to Report Concerns
    • Additional Employee Resources
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