How to Apply for Medicare

Applying is simpler than it looks

You apply for Medicare Parts A and B through the Social Security Administration, which confirms that you're eligible and processes your application. Most people apply around their 65th birthday, and it usually takes far less time than they expect.

Our advice: start about three months before you want your coverage to begin. That leaves plenty of time to compare plans and handle paperwork without rushing.

Your Initial Enrollment Period

Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it. For example, if your 65th birthday is June 25, your window runs from March 1 through September 30.

When your coverage starts depends on when you sign up:

• Sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month, and coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.
• Sign up in your birthday month or the 3 months after, and coverage starts on the first day of the month after you sign up.

A little-known rule: if your birthday is on the 1st of the month, Medicare treats you as turning 65 a month early. Someone born on June 1 can have coverage that starts May 1.

You may be enrolled automatically

If you're already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you'll be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. Your Medicare card should arrive in the mail about 3 months before your birthday month. If you aren't receiving benefits yet, you'll need to apply using one of the options below.

Still working at 65?

If you or your spouse are still working and covered by an employer health plan, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. It usually depends on the size of the employer. With 20 or more employees, the employer plan generally pays first, and delaying Part B is often fine. With fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually pays first, so you'll typically need Part B right away.

When the job or the coverage ends, whichever comes first, you have 8 months to sign up for Part B without a penalty. Every situation is a little different, so we're happy to look at yours.

Apply online

Applying online at ssa.gov is the most popular option, and it only takes a few minutes. While you wait for your Medicare card, we can help you compare Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and Part D options so you're ready to enroll as soon as it arrives.

Apply by phone

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and tell the representative you'd like to apply for Medicare. They may mail you some forms to finish. If anything in them is confusing, give us a call and we'll walk you through it.

Apply in person

You can also apply at your local Social Security office. Call ahead to make an appointment, since walk-in waits can be long. Before you leave, ask for a printed confirmation that you've applied for Parts A and B. Some insurance companies will accept it so you can apply for a Medicare Supplement or drug plan before your card arrives.

Signing up for Part B later

If you already have Part A and are leaving employer coverage, you'll sign up for Part B with two forms:

• CMS-40B, the Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B
• CMS-L564, the Request for Employment Information, which your employer fills out to show you had group coverage

You can submit them online through Social Security, or fax or mail them to your local office.

What happens after you apply

Enrolling in Original Medicare is only the first step. Because Parts A and B don't cover everything, most people add a Medicare Supplement plan and a Part D plan, or choose a Medicare Advantage plan instead. We'll help you compare your options, answer your questions and complete your application. Call 702-768-7999 or use our contact form to get started.