1. Pennie and Medicare

Transitioning from Pennie to Medicare

Pennie & Medicare

In most cases, when you enroll in Medicare, you will no longer qualify for health coverage through Pennie.   ACTION IS NEEDED – Read more below.

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Transitioning from Pennie to Medicare 

You usually no longer qualify for Pennie once you have enrolled in Medicare.  ACTION IS NEEDED.

When you turn 65, you become eligible to enroll in health coverage through Medicare. You MUST cancel your coverage through Pennie BEFORE your first day of Medicare coverage. This will avoid overlapping coverage. Pennie will not automatically end your coverage for you. 

If you have a mid-month birthday, you should cancel your Pennie coverage before the 1st of the month you turn 65.  The Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare starts 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after your 65th birthday.

Example:

If you know your Medicare is going to start on September 1, you can cancel your plan through Pennie at any time during the 3 months prior to September 1 with an end date of August 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel my coverage through Pennie?

NOTE: Your health insurance company cannot terminate your coverage for you and will direct you to call Pennie for further help. 

Step 1: First log into your Pennie account.  

Step 2: After logging in, click “My Enrollments” in the left-hand navigation. 

Step 3: Then, scroll down to the appropriate plan and click “Disenroll from Health Plan.” Follow the next steps to continue with the process of terminating your coverage. 

Please note that Pennie can terminate your coverage starting:  

  1. The end of the current month, or 
  2. The end of the next month 

You can also call Pennie Customer Service at 844-844-8040.  

Do I have to also cancel my dental coverage?  

No.  You can keep the dental plan you got through Pennie even after enrolling in Medicare. 

If I forget to cancel my Pennie coverage, can I go back and cancel it from the first day my Medicare plan started?

In most cases, if you forget to cancel your Pennie coverage and you are within 60 days of enrolling in Medicare, you can go back and cancel your Pennie coverage from the first day your Medicare started

If you are outside of those 60 days, you are NOT able to retroactively cancel your coverage. 

You will need to report your Advanced Premium Tax Credits on your taxes and may be penalized for any overlap. You could potentially owe that money back to the federal government when you file your taxes.  

What do I do if I am Medicare eligible, but my family members on the Pennie account are not eligible for Medicare?  

Don’t worry, your family members who are not eligible for Medicare can still qualify for health coverage through Pennie.

However, it is very important you update your Pennie application to make it clear you are no longer seeking coverage through Pennie as soon as possible.  

How do I enroll in Medicare health coverage?

Visit medicare.gov or visit this official Department of Aging webpage for free unbiased Medicaresupport throughout Pennsylvania.   

Get More Help

If you have questions about transitioning from Pennie to Medicare or cancelling your plan, we are here to help!

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