My Medicare stopped while I was incarcerated. How do I restart it?

If you had Part A (hospital insurance) before you were incarcerated, you don’t have to do anything to restart it. Your enrollment should still be in place, and you should have access to Part A coverage as soon as you’re released.[1614]

If you had Part B (medical insurance) before you were incarcerated, your next steps depend on your situation:

    If you kept paying premiums and stayed enrolled in Part B while incarcerated: you don’t have to do anything to restart it. Your enrollment is in place, and you should have access to Part B coverage once you’re released.[1615]
    If you stopped paying premiums and your Medicare enrollment was ended while incarcerated: you can re-enroll during General Enrollment Period (“GEP”), which runs January to March.
    Your Part B coverage will start on July 1 of that year.
    You’ll have a higher premium based on how many months passed since your Medicare enrollment ended.
    If you’re under 65 and previously qualified for Medicare due to a disability, you must restart your SSDI before you can get Part B again. Once you know your release date, contact Social Security to do this (see PG. 479).[1616]
    If you had Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (prescription drug plan) before you were incarcerated, these forms of coverage ended during your incarceration. If you want Part C and/or D after release, you must enroll again during your Special Enrollment Period (“SEP”). Your SEP starts the month before your release date and ends two months after that date. If you miss your SEP, you’ll be charged a penalty when you try to enroll later.[1617]

IMPORTANT: If you qualified for Medicare through SSDI, you must restart your SSDI before you can get Medicare coverage back. Even if you contact Social Security before your release, you won’t start getting SSDI again until a month after release. One possible way to avoid a gap in health care coverage is to apply for SSI before your release, if you qualify. If your SSI application is approved, you’ll be automatically enrolled in both SSI and Medi-Cal after release. You’ll only be on SSI for one month until your SSDI kicks in, and then your Medi-Cal will link to your SSDI again.[1618]

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  1. 1614

    If You Become Eligible for Medicare While Incarcerated, MedicareInteractive.org, http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=1783 http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1OxXzw1kOBc%3d&tabid=353 ↑

  2. 1615

    If You Already Have Medicare When You are Incarcerated, MedicareInteractive.org, http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=1782http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=1782 ↑

  3. 1616

    If You Already Have Medicare When You are Incarcerated, MedicareInteractive.org, http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=1782http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=1782 ↑

  4. 1617

    If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan before your incarceration, Medicare.gov, http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=1784 ↑

  5. 1618

    A Manual on SSI/SSDI for Prisoners & Their Advocates (2004), Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, www.prisonlegalnews.org/media/publications/manual_on_social_security_beneits_for_prisoners.pdf; Your Right to Representation to the Community (2009). ↑