The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notifies certain beneficiaries
at the beginning of their initial enrollment period (IEP) about their automatic entitlement
to hospital insurance (HI) and enrollment in supplementary medical insurance (SMI),
if applicable based on where the beneficiary resides, in the IEP package. Beneficiaries
receive the IEP package if they are:
-
•
receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits for at least four months
prior to the 25th month of disability benefit entitlement; or
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•
receiving retirement or survivors insurance (RSI) benefits at least four months prior
to the month of age 65 attainment.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) automatically enrolls (deems) beneficiaries
who reside in the United States and U.S. Territories (except Puerto Rico) in SMI as
outlined in HI 00805.110A.1. CMS notifies these beneficiaries of their HI and SMI entitlement.
We do not automatically enroll beneficiaries who reside in Puerto Rico and foreign
countries in SMI as outlined in HI 00805.050, HI 00805.115A and HI 00805.120A. CMS notifies these beneficiaries of their HI entitlement and their ability to enroll
in SMI.
NOTE: The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) sends the IEP package and issues Medicare cards
to RRB annuitants.