As I checked the front desk of the clinic, the receptionist sais that Medicare

[question everything]

wants to know when I retired, at what age.

Anyone heard anything like that?

I would love to ask Medicare, but these are the busy time, especially with the changes.

[Raven123]

1. Sounds suspect. Wouldn't answer.

[dameatball]

2. I have been on Medicare for 14 months, including a surgery and have never been asked that question.

[trof]

12. Been on for 12 YEARS and never asked that question.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

3. "I can't recall." words to live by...bc it works for them.

ala kavanaugh and dt and any other gop under oath.

[Dan]

4. I just applied online

and these are basic questions that I had to answer. I think it is trying to determine if you have existing insurance from an employer, but it might apply more toward the supplemental insurance issue.

[question everything]

7. Interesting. I have been on Medicare for more than five years

so trying to find this info now is strange.

And I did contact Medicare - they have a 24/7 chat line - and, of course, they do not ask. "Your provider should be able to submit claims to Medicare without this info."

[Delmette2.0]

5. It's on your Medicare card.

It's the Coverage Starts date.

[LiberalArkie]

6. I was carded once at a specialist because I look a lot younger

Than my age. Seems to be a thing with aspies.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Medicare doesn't give a flying fuck as to when you retired or at what age.

You become eligible for Medicare at age 65, whether you are still working or not. If you are still working, as I was, you sign up for Part A. When you leave the paid job that offers health care, you then sign up for Part B. Doing a supplemental or an Advantage Plan is a personal decision based on what you think is best for you.

The front desk clerk was wrong. Pure and simple.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Medicare absolutely gives a flying fuck ...

If there's a gap (I think it's more than three months) between turning 65 and when you apply for Part B or D, then the gap needs to be explained. If you can't explain it, then your monthly charge goes up, permanently. I waited until I was 68 to apply, because I was on my wife's insurance from her job. When she retired, I had to get a form from her H.R. department that explained why I wasn't on Medicare B/D. The folks at the Social Security office were satisfied with the form, so no penalty.

I didn't know Medicare would use hospital staff to get their paperwork right.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. I'd forgotten about that part.

But if you have your Medicare card it doesn't matter if you retired yesterday or in 1966.

And yes, I'm fully aware of delaying Medicare Part B because I did exactly the same thing only in my case it was because I continued to work for a year after I turned 65.

But if you've got your card and you're enrolled, it no longer matters to Medicare (other than if you stupidly delayed and didn't enroll in Part B when you should have and are now paying the penalty) what date you retired. And it absolutely shouldn't to the person taking your card and checking you in at the doctor's office.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. You're right, nobody at a Dr's office should care how much your Medicare costs you.

It's between you and Medicare how much you pay, whether you pay the "normal" amount, or have a permanent penalty because of some unexcused delay, or if you have a year-by-year "penalty" because your income was high a couple of years ago. All the nurse/clerk should care about is that you have Medicare (and supplemental).