Hi, I'm 61. I got on social security disability in May of this year. I just got a letter stating in December that my check will be about 150.00 less a month. I though I don't have to get on Medicare till I'm 65, what should I do? Can they do this?

Hi. People drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits become eligible for Medicare beginning with the earlier of a) the month they reach age 65, or b) their 25th month of entitlement to disability benefits. Therefore, if the reason that your benefit rate is scheduled to go down is due to Medicare, then your SSDI entitlement must have been retroactive to December 2019.

You aren't required to accept optional Part B Medicare coverage, though. Part A of Medicare is premium free for people who are insured for benefits, and that coverage is mandatory for people who are eligible and collecting benefits. But the Part B coverage that currently costs $144 per month is optional and can be refused. You can decline part B coverage before it goes into effect by following the instructions that come with the card and sending it back.

Most people only refuse Part B coverage if they already have coverage through an employer plan, so before refusing Part B coverage you should make sure you understand your options. If you decline Part B coverage when you're first eligible and if you don't have employer based health coverage, you'll likely have to pay a higher premium rate if you decide to enroll in Part B later. Plus, you could only enroll in Part B during an enrollment period, so there could be a delay in your coverage.

Best, Jerry