Policy and Systems

As soon as you are determined to be eligible for Medicare, you will automatically be enrolled for hospital insurance coverage (Part A). You pay nothing for this coverage. You will also be automatically enrolled for supplemental medical insurance coverage (Part B). You will have to pay a monthly premium for Part B. If you receive an annuity, the premium will usually be deducted from your monthly payments. If you choose not to receive Part B coverage, you must notify the Railroad Retirement Board.

Read more about Enrollment for Medicare

When Your Early Medicare Could End

Medical Recovery

If it is determined that your condition has improved and that you are medically able to work, your Medicare coverage will end (see Part V, Item 3, for the definition of medical recovery). This is true whether or not you have actually worked. When this happens, your early Medicare coverage ends with the later of:

Read more about When Your Early Medicare Could End

When Your Early Medicare Can Begin

Your Medicare coverage will begin on the later of:

the first day of the 25th month you are entitled to receive annuity payments, or
the first day of the 30th calendar month after your disability began.

Read more about When Your Early Medicare Can Begin

Eligibility Requirements for Early Medicare

To be eligible for Medicare coverage before age 65, a disabled widow(er) annuitant must:

be at least age 50, and
permanently disabled before the end of the prescribed period (see Part V, Item 6, for the definition of prescribed period).

An individual with permanent kidney failure (chronic renal disease) is eligible at any age. However, the Social Security Administration must be contacted for this coverage.

Read more about Eligibility Requirements for Early Medicare

Types of Medicare Coverage

This part provides general information about early Medicare coverage. For a more complete explanation of the Medicare program, please refer to booklet RB-20, "Medicare for Railroad Workers and Their Families".

Medicare is the Federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and certain disabled people. One part of Medicare (Part A) provides hospital insurance benefits. Another part (Part B) provides supplementary medical insurance.

Hospital insurance helps pay for:

Read more about Types of Medicare Coverage

Part III - Applying for Early Medicare Coverage

Read more about Part III - Applying for Early Medicare Coverage

When Your Disability Annuity Could End

At Age 60

At age 60, your entitlement to a disability annuity ends and your entitlement to an aged widow(er)'s annuity begins. This means that your entitlement to annuity payments is no longer affected by the restrictions that apply to disability annuitants as discussed in this booklet. However, your annuity is still subject to the restrictions for aged widow(er) annuitants discussed in booklet RB-17, Survivor Annuities. If you do not have a copy of that booklet, you should request one.

Before Age 60

Read more about When Your Disability Annuity Could End

Conviction for a Criminal Offense Can Affect Your Annuity

The amount of your annuity may be affected if you are imprisoned or confined due to a conviction for a criminal offense.

See Part V, Item 1, for the definition of confinement.

Read more about Conviction for a Criminal Offense Can Affect Your Annuity

How Work Can Affect Your Disability Annuity Payments

Before Age 60

If you perform work after your disability annuity begins and while you are still under age 60, full monthly payments will continue until it is determined that your disability has ended and you are no longer entitled to a disability annuity. However, your annuity is not payable for any month in which you work for a railroad employer, and you must return your annuity payment for that month to the RRB.

Read more about How Work Can Affect Your Disability Annuity Payments