@BariO908952
1. The dates are different because the different enrollment periods cover different circumstances and different people. Medicare is correct as to when your Mom can apply.
- Annual (Open) Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7) is open to currently enrolled beneficiaries and is a period of time when they can evaluate their current coverage to see if they need to change some parts of their coverage - specifically the "how they get their benefits" - Medicare Advantage plan choice AND/OR Medicare Part D - their Prescription Drug Plan.
- General Enrollment Period Jan. 1 - March 31, with an effective date of coverage of July 1, is for people who have missed their initial enrollment period and do not qualify for the Special Enrollment period because they had other Medicare approved credible coverage.
Medicare.gov - Medicare Enrollment Periods - When To Sign Up Explained
You can also download the Medicare.gov - "Medicare and You" annual booklet - 2021 version is available online - it explains all the things that you may have questions about your mother's coverage.
As for your #2 question - she may not have a penalty for Part B & D IF she never got Medicare Part A - which is the premium free hospital coverage for most people because they have had Medicare Part A or HI (hospital insurance) payroll deductions during their entire and vested length work record. However, if she never worked under this US system, she will be paying for Medicare Part A (think that is $ 471 per month) + Medicare Part B $ 149.00 per month for most people and for her Medicare Part D plan and /or a Medicare Advantage plan which could have the Med D program of prescription drug coverage built in.
This explains it pretty well.
ehealth Medicare 01/25/2021 - Can My Immigrant Parents Get Medicare?
As for your question #3 - Since she will be your dependent, I am gonna guess that Medicare will want both incomes - yours and hers, if she has any. I say that because I do not know if people on Medicare who are not citizens can get any "extra help" and that is the reason for the question. There are many extra help benefits for Medicare beneficiary's who have very low income, some from the federal gov (SS) and some from the state - but the dependency classification throws another matter into the equation. If she were married, they would want the income of both so that is why I guess that way since she is gonna be your dependent. Why are you electing this dependent classification? Sponsorship?
Try performing the check function [ Find Out If You Qualify ] on this social security.gov page -
SSA.gov - Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Either way, you are gonna have to ask them - most likely Social Security, not Medicare, since they are the ones that determine premiums in Medicare and federal extra help. Sorry, I just don't know. It might also be that some states offer extra help too - so check with them too.
It's Always Something . . . . Roseanna Roseannadanna