How to Make Medicare the Primary Insurance

You automatically become eligible for Medicare when you turn 65. Medicare is a public benefit plan that provides health care coverage to seniors. You are not required to give up your individual or group insurance plan or other supplemental coverage options when you become eligible for Medicare. All you need to do is designate Medicare as your primary insurance. It's your responsibility to manage your health care coverage, including designating your primary insurance when you are covered by more than one insurance plan.

Things You'll Need

• Contact information for your Medicare benefits coordinator
• Medicare insurance card
• Contact information for your benefits administrator for your other insurance plan
• Insurance card
• Contact information for your State Insurance Department

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Instructions

• 1

  Contact your Medicare benefits coordinator. Have your Social Security number and other identifying information handy, such as your date of birth and current address for the coordinator to confirm your identity.

• 2

  Tell the coordinator that you want to make Medicare your primary insurance. Have your Medicare insurance card ready in case they need your identification number and date coverage started. Request official documentation to confirm the switch is made. Ask them to explain the billing process to you to confirm understanding.

• 3

  Contact the benefits administrator for your other insurance plan. Have your Social Security number and other identifying information handy, so the administrator can confirm your identity.

• 4

  Tell the coordinator that you qualify for Medicare and have made it your primary insurance. Ask him to make the company's coverage your secondary insurance. Request official documentation to confirm the switch is made. Review the changes to confirm how billing is done.