How to sign up for Medicare

So, why isn't that information showing up in the online application portal?
I honestly haven't the slightest clue, though I have a nagging suspicion they haven't actually synced their systems with the universities yet...

I’m pretty sure—starting maybe last academic year—that Medicare and the universities have finally synced up their systems. Now, the colleges handle all the health insurance and supplemental coverage stuff for full-time students directly. I know this because they handled everything for my kids last year without us lifting a finger. No paperwork, no running around the registrar's office; the school just took care of it. I did double-check the kids' social security numbers against the Medicare database just to be safe, and everything checked out fine.

As for what happens once they graduate? Honestly, I haven't a clue. I guess I'll find out in about a year and a half when reality hits. 👋
Either way, it feels like these government agencies are constantly merging their databases, one little piece at a time, trying to build this giant digital web.
Plus, the laws change whenever they feel like it, so don't just take my word for it. You should probably just call the FDA info line and get the straight facts from them.

Morgan Patel said:Hey,
just wondering if anyone knows how the FDA, Medicare, or the IRS actually track our education levels.

I’m from a generation that never had those old paper work booklets, just the digital stuff now. I'm not even in the IRS system because I never officially registered there—I just worked for an employer who handled everything through the Social Security Administration. But this new gig requires proof of my degree, so I'm curious: can they just pull that info themselves, or do I need to send the FDA some kind of certification or diploma? Like, does the government get automatic updates from universities or whatever?
To be clear, I want to know if there's some massive shared database where all this is linked up—Social Security, college records, the whole works—or if they're totally clueless and I have to do all the legwork myself.

Thanks in advance,
B

They know.

Like, if you request your electronic records through a government portal for the FDA, it’ll show your education level and what credentials you need for the specific job you're doing.
You can see all that on your electronic pension and employment status printouts.
But it doesn't come directly from the college; it's usually just what your employer reports when they file your paperwork. And nowadays, the unemployment office tracks your education and job titles in a digital format.

ruggedmaker2 said:I’m pretty sure—starting maybe last academic year—that Medicare and the universities have finally synced up their systems. Now, the colleges handle all the health insurance and supplemental coverage stuff for full-time students directly. I know this because they handled everything for my kids last year without us lifting a finger. No paperwork, no running around the registrar's office; the school just took care of it. I did double-check the kids' social security numbers against the Medicare database just to be safe, and everything checked out fine.

As for what happens once they graduate? Honestly, I haven't a clue. I guess I'll find out in about a year and a half when reality hits. 👋
Either way, it feels like these government agencies are constantly merging their databases, one little piece at a time, trying to build this giant digital web.
Plus, the laws change whenever they feel like it, so don't just take my word for it. You should probably just call the FDA info line and get the straight facts from them.

You just gotta head down to the unemployment office and show them your degree certificate. That's All for getting it updated in the official employment records.
Same deal for any extra certifications or training—you just bring those papers to the local labor office too.

And what about those people who finish college and skip the unemployment office entirely because they landed a job right away? I mean, do they even bother showing up at the local unemployment office with their credentials or what?

Morgan Patel said:Hey,
just wondering if anyone knows how the FDA, Medicare, or the IRS actually track our education levels.

I’m from a generation that never had those old paper work booklets, just the digital stuff now. I'm not even in the IRS system because I never officially registered there—I just worked for an employer who handled everything through the Social Security Administration. But this new gig requires proof of my degree, so I'm curious: can they just pull that info themselves, or do I need to send the FDA some kind of certification or diploma? Like, does the government get automatic updates from universities or whatever?
To be clear, I want to know if there's some massive shared database where all this is linked up—Social Security, college records, the whole works—or if they're totally clueless and I have to do all the legwork myself.

Thanks in advance,
B

So, even if it is all digitized, when you land that first job, you generally have to bring proof from your previous employer's pension/social security filings... though I am a bit confused as to how you were reported without those details in the first place.....
They won't actually have your education data on file unless you present physical proof for them to enter into the system. Previously, they used to manually record everything in paper files, but now they input everything into electronic records. Consequently, you will need to take your original diploma—or whatever documentation you have regarding your highest level of education, such as a high school certificate—to the Social Security Administration for verification. They will need one copy to keep on file, and then they will update your educational status in their system....
Do this now, so that your records are accurate moving forward....

You can request an online login through the tax authorities, which allows you to print out quite a bit of your own data, including your work history from the Social Security Administration.....

gentlesailor17 said:You just gotta head down to the unemployment office and show them your degree certificate. That's All for getting it updated in the official employment records.
Same deal for any extra certifications or training—you just bring those papers to the local labor office too.

That is incorrect... registration happens through Social Security, while the unemployment office operates independently. You have to register at both locations once you finish school or college...
They enter the data separately. If you have a printout of your work history from Social Security, they use that to verify your education level, I believe... but it is wise to bring physical proof to them as well... just to ensure there isn't any erroneous data entered...

ruggedmaker2 said:And what about those people who finish college and skip the unemployment office entirely because they landed a job right away? I mean, do they even bother showing up at the local unemployment office with their credentials or what?

Registration with Social Security is mandatory, obviously...
The unemployment office is really only for when you're actually out of work and need to register as a job seeker and deal with all the usual requirements for the unemployed...

Someone please correct me if I've got this wrong.

Thanks seriously everyone, you guys really went all out here 😁

The thing eating at me is my boss plans to file my paperwork this Monday, but I don't have my diploma on me—it's sitting at home. If he lists me under a Bachelor's degree on the VSS, but there’s no record of it yet in the system (like with the FDA or the IRS or Medicare), is that going to be an issue?

Basically, if he writes down that I have a Bachelor's, but they haven't updated my status from having just a High School Diploma (from the SSA) yet, is that allowed? Or am I supposed to hand over the actual diploma first (which I can't do until next week when I get back home) before he's legally allowed to list me as a college grad?

Or is this all just typical bureaucracy where nobody actually knows anything, they just copy-paste whatever is in front of them and don't give a damn?
I called the FDA and they seemed like they couldn't be bothered to talk to anyone. Some lady told me it doesn't matter what he puts down and to just bring the papers whenever I can, but I'm still tripping because I don't want to put anyone in a tight spot :/

silvertinker6 said:That is incorrect... registration happens through Social Security, while the unemployment office operates independently. You have to register at both locations once you finish school or college...
They enter the data separately. If you have a printout of your work history from Social Security, they use that to verify your education level, I believe... but it is wise to bring physical proof to them as well... just to ensure there isn't any erroneous data entered...

The question was really about what someone who just graduated actually does. In that case, you go to the unemployment office.
If they already landed a job (which is what you were getting at), then yeah, you report to Social Security.
And looking at the stats, most graduates end up at the unemployment office first anyway. That’s what I meant. There isn't anyone to report you to Social Security if you haven't found a job yet. Once you get one, then you do that.

silvertinker6 said:So, even if it is all digitized, when you land that first job, you generally have to bring proof from your previous employer's pension/social security filings... though I am a bit confused as to how you were reported without those details in the first place.....
They won't actually have your education data on file unless you present physical proof for them to enter into the system. Previously, they used to manually record everything in paper files, but now they input everything into electronic records. Consequently, you will need to take your original diploma—or whatever documentation you have regarding your highest level of education, such as a high school certificate—to the Social Security Administration for verification. They will need one copy to keep on file, and then they will update your educational status in their system....
Do this now, so that your records are accurate moving forward....

You can request an online login through the tax authorities, which allows you to print out quite a bit of your own data, including your work history from the Social Security Administration.....

I didn't give Social Security any proof of my college degree, but when I pull my records from the FDA portal, my education level is listed there perfectly fine.

Morgan Patel said:Thanks seriously everyone, you guys really went all out here 😁

The thing eating at me is my boss plans to file my paperwork this Monday, but I don't have my diploma on me—it's sitting at home. If he lists me under a Bachelor's degree on the VSS, but there’s no record of it yet in the system (like with the FDA or the IRS or Medicare), is that going to be an issue?

Basically, if he writes down that I have a Bachelor's, but they haven't updated my status from having just a High School Diploma (from the SSA) yet, is that allowed? Or am I supposed to hand over the actual diploma first (which I can't do until next week when I get back home) before he's legally allowed to list me as a college grad?

Or is this all just typical bureaucracy where nobody actually knows anything, they just copy-paste whatever is in front of them and don't give a damn?
I called the FDA and they seemed like they couldn't be bothered to talk to anyone. Some lady told me it doesn't matter what he puts down and to just bring the papers whenever I can, but I'm still tripping because I don't want to put anyone in a tight spot :/

If he's filing everything electronically, there is a chance the registration could be rejected since they won't have your degree on record yet. He should just give it a shot and see how it goes...

gentlesailor17 said:The question was really about what someone who just graduated actually does. In that case, you go to the unemployment office.
If they already landed a job (which is what you were getting at), then yeah, you report to Social Security.
And looking at the stats, most graduates end up at the unemployment office first anyway. That’s what I meant. There isn't anyone to report you to Social Security if you haven't found a job yet. Once you get one, then you do that.

I didn't give Social Security any proof of my college degree, but when I pull my records from the FDA portal, my education level is listed there perfectly fine.

I was writing from the perspective of someone getting hired, because... that is how I interpreted a previous post...

but not everyone who finishes college registers with unemployment immediately, so there are plenty of unregistered individuals; it really just depends on who chooses to sign up...

It is possible that colleges and Social Security are now linked and data updates automatically... that wasn't the case in the past, so I remain skeptical. I would double-check everything if I needed to submit specific documentation for anyone...

Last year, I applied for a job opening where they required my education level to be officially documented in my digital employment record.

At the time, I’d already been on unemployment for six months, and since the unemployment office hadn't updated my credentials, there was clearly no link between those systems.

I went down to the local unemployment office with my diploma in hand. Now, my digital profile shows my personal info, then my education history, and finally my work history. In that work section, there are specific columns for "actual education level" and "required education level." Before I visited the agency in person, that entire education table was missing. If you don't have a job or an updated degree on file, you're left with just the first page of data.

Honestly, I doubt employers even bother verifying your degree if it isn't explicitly listed. Your best bet is having someone mail you the diploma, then rushing to the unemployment office to get it logged—it takes five minutes. Still, I suspect plenty of people leave this unaddressed without any real consequences. It's common sense to them; no employer is going to hire someone for a role requiring a Master's degree if they only have a high school diploma. They aren't looking that closely. 😁

I’ve gotta say, I am totally lost 🤔 when it comes to how this supplemental health insurance from Medicare actually works. Like, the way they list the monthly rates is $23 per month, right? So, I went ahead and dropped $280 on my annual premium... which should basically work out to $23 every single month. Fast forward seven months, and I hop onto their website to check my balance, fully expecting to see $117 sitting there. But instead, I look at the screen and—get this—some totally bizarre number $113 pops up! Honestly, I don't know if I just failed basic math class or if they're quietly skimming off the top, but what is even going on here? ☕

I have a bit of a silly question regarding the registration and deregistration process for MIO and ZO systems
If an employee doesn't have any gaps in their employment history—say they quit their current job on May 20th—does the registration at the new company start on the 20th or the 21st?
Also, regarding the manual filing at the service counter for MIO, does that only apply to companies with up to three employees? Does that mean if I need to deregister my fourth employee, I can still handle things at the counter or via the online portal because there are technically only three left? Or is health insurance deregistration handled automatically through the MIO system?

I don't have any text from "latica7" to rewrite yet! Send over the post you want me to work on, and I'll get right to it. Just remember, I'll be keeping things upbeat, punchy, and strictly American. Ready when you are! Jack Young says:
I’ve got a bit of a silly question regarding signing up or opting out of Medicare and Social Security.
So, here’s the deal if you’re looking at switching jobs without any gaps in your employment history. Let's say you put in your notice and your last day at the old gig is May 20th. If you’re heading straight into a new role, does the paperwork start on the 20th or the 21st? It's like a relay race—you want that baton passed perfectly so there isn't a single second where you aren't "on the clock." Usually, the new coverage kicks in the very next day, the 21st, to keep everything seamless.
...

21.05.

jadenomad24 said:I have a bit of a silly question regarding the registration and deregistration process for MIO and ZO systems
If an employee doesn't have any gaps in their employment history—say they quit their current job on May 20th—does the registration at the new company start on the 20th or the 21st?
Also, regarding the manual filing at the service counter for MIO, does that only apply to companies with up to three employees? Does that mean if I need to deregister my fourth employee, I can still handle things at the counter or via the online portal because there are technically only three left? Or is health insurance deregistration handled automatically through the MIO system?

Yep.

I'm just hanging out here, keeping things steady. Nothing too crazy on my end today! Jack Young says:
So, if we need to take employee number four off the books, that leaves us with three people left, right? Can I just head down to the local Social Security office to handle that, or should I just knock it out through the online portal?

Thinking about retirement savings lately. It’s kind of like watching a slow-cooker meal—you set it, forget it, and just hope the flavor is right by the time you're ready to eat. Dealing with all those digital pension portals and online accounts can be a bit of a headache, though. It’s easy to get lost in the menus and spreadsheets. Just gotta stay organized and keep an eye on things!

Thanks.

Help me out here, please. I’ve got an employee whose training contract is about to wrap up, and once that's done, they're moving straight into a regular employment contract. Am I just supposed to make a quick update on the Medicare portal (eM-3p), or am I looking at a full de-registration from the training program first, followed by a fresh registration for the permanent role?
Thanks

edit: Just checked the Medicare site—looks like it’s a de-registration first, then the new registration.

I need some guidance here... if an employee doesn't pass their probationary period and we're processing their termination, what specific option should I select in the e-filing system under the reason for termination of coverage?

A contract termination? What exactly are they offering you? I’m away from my desk at the moment so I can't look into the specifics myself...