When turning 65 most people enroll in Medicare parts A and B (hospital and doctor.) Several agencies are involved in the process such as Social Security and Medicare. If purchasing an Arizona Medicare supplement plan there is the private insurer to deal with along with a separate Part D prescription plan to purchase. If enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan the challenge becomes which one to choose. What many don’t realize is that there is one more agency to deal with in many cases, the Medicare Coordination of Benefits and Recovery Center.
The Medicare Recovery Center should be notified if Medicare will be the primary insurer or secondary insurer. Calling 855-798-2627 will allow you to listen to an automated line listing the information they have on you. If Medicare or an Advantage plan is your only health insurance Medicare needs to know they are the primary insurer. If you have other health insurance through an employer as an example, Medicare needs to know this as well.
If the Recovery Center has incorrect information on file Medicare will likely delay paying claims until their records have been updated. This can be quite the issue, especially if you have a scheduled surgery soon after enrolling in Medicare. It is also important to notify your doctors and other providers of your new insurance.
For those still working past age 65 and soon to retire and enroll in Medicare Part B, it is highly recommended that you fax a letter to the Medicare Recovery Center, 405-869-3308, notifying them of the date that Medicare is to become the primary insurer.