Haris Ashley
Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 or older or those with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. Signing up for Medicare can be done in several ways, including online, by phone, or by filling out a form. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you may be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. However, if you are not yet receiving Social Security benefits, you can still apply for Medicare by signing up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) separately. It is important to note that there are specific enrollment periods for Medicare, and late enrollment may result in penalties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medicare Eligibility | People aged 65 or older or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure |
| Medicare Part A | Hospital Insurance |
| Medicare Part B | Medical Insurance |
| Medicare Part C | Medicare Advantage Plans (private insurance option) |
| Medicare Part D | Covers prescription medications |
| Enrollment | Sign up online at Social Security, via phone, or by filling out form CMS-40B and sending it to your local Social Security office |
| Enrollment Timing | Sign up within 3 months of turning 65 to avoid late enrollment penalties |
| Enrollment for People with Disabilities | If under 65 and disabled, entitled to Medicare Parts A and B after receiving disability benefits for 24 months |
| Enrollment for People with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) | Receive Medicare Parts A and B immediately when enrolling in Social Security disability benefits |
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Online application
Medicare is the US health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. The Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare begins 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. You may have to pay a penalty if you miss this Initial Enrollment Period.
If you are not ready to receive Social Security benefits at 65 because you are still working, you can apply online for Medicare only. This is the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. You will need to create a secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits.
To sign up for Medicare Parts A and B, or Part A only, contact your local Social Security office. You can call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 if you or your spouse worked for a railroad. You will receive a welcome package with your Medicare card about 2 weeks after you sign up.
If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the US, you will get Part A automatically but will need to sign up for Part B. You can only sign up for Part B at certain times, and you may have to pay a monthly late enrollment penalty if you don't sign up within 3 months of turning 65.
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Eligibility criteria
Medicare is the US health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure.
To be eligible for Medicare, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be 65 years of age or older.
- Be under 65 and have a qualifying disability, such as Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or another recognised disability.
- Have permanent kidney failure.
If you are already receiving Social Security disability benefits, you will automatically receive Medicare Parts A and B after 24 months of receiving disability benefits. If you have Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), you will receive Medicare Parts A and B immediately when you enrol in Social Security disability benefits.
If you are under 65 and have a qualifying disability, you may be eligible for Medicare even if you are not receiving Social Security disability benefits. In this case, you will need to apply for Medicare and provide documentation of your disability.
It's important to note that Medicare has different parts, including Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). While some people receive both parts automatically, others may need to sign up for one or both parts. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the US, you will need to sign up for Part B. Additionally, there are certain times when you can sign up for Part B, and if you enrol late, you may have to pay a monthly late enrolment penalty.
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Medicare card
Medicare is the health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. There are several ways to enrol in Medicare, and you can sign up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) or just Part A. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the US, you will need to sign up for Part B.
If you are eligible for Medicare, you will receive a Medicare card in the mail. This will be sent to you in a welcome package about three months before your Medicare coverage starts. You can also log in to your secure Medicare account to print your official Medicare card. You will need the information on your Medicare card to join a Medicare health or drug plan, so it's important to keep it in a safe place. You should carry your Medicare card with you when you're away from home and show it to your doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider when you get services. If you have a Medicare drug plan or supplemental coverage, carry that plan card with you too.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan, you will use your plan's card to get services, not your Medicare card. However, you should keep your Medicare card in a safe place in case you switch plans or go back to Original Medicare later. If you lose your card, you can log in to your secure Medicare account to print or order an official copy of your Medicare card. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to order a replacement card to be sent to you in the mail.
If you receive Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, you can call 1-877-772-5772 to get a replacement card. TTY users can call 1-312-751-4701.
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Part A and B
Signing up for Medicare Part A and Part B
Medicare Part A and Part B are two components of Original Medicare, a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and above or with specific health conditions or disabilities. Part A covers hospital insurance, while Part B covers medical insurance. Signing up for Medicare can be done online, by phone, in person, or by mail. Here's a detailed guide on how to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B:
Online:
The Social Security Administration recommends that enrolling online through SocialSecurity.gov is the easiest and fastest way to sign up and receive any financial assistance for which you qualify. To begin, create a secure my Social Security account. If you already have Part A and want to sign up for Part B, fill out the Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B (CMS-40B). During a Special Enrollment Period, you may also need to complete the Request for Employment Information (CMS-L564). If you have a unique situation, fill out the Application for Medicare Part A and B — Special Enrollment Period (Exceptional Conditions) (CMS-10797).
Phone:
You may enroll by phone by calling the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, the TTY number is 800-325-0778. Inform the representative that you want to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B.
In Person:
Visit your local Social Security Administration office to enroll in person. You can locate the nearest office through the SSA office locator.
Mail:
Send a letter to your local Social Security Administration office with your name, Social Security number, and the desired enrollment date. They will send you the necessary information and any additional enrollment requests.
Automatic Enrollment:
If you are approaching your 65th birthday and are already receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board, you may be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. Your Medicare card and enrollment details will be mailed to you 3 to 4 months before your birthday.
It is important to remember that you can only sign up for Part B at specific times. If you do not enroll in Part B when you turn 65, you may have to wait and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty. Additionally, if you have been covered by an employer group health plan after turning 65, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in Part B without penalty.
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Enrollment period
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. If you are under 65, you may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
Most people sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) when they are first eligible, typically at age 65. If you don't sign up for Part B within 3 months of turning 65, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.
There is a Special Enrollment Period of 8 months to sign up for Part B, which starts when you stop working, even if you choose to opt for COBRA or other coverage that is not Medicare. If you lose your job-based health coverage before you or your spouse stops working, you have 8 months to sign up. If you want Medicare coverage to start when your job-based health insurance ends, you need to sign up for Part B the month before you or your spouse retires.
If you miss your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. The penalty goes up the longer you wait. You may also have to pay a penalty if you have to pay a Part A premium.
You can sign up between January 1 and March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period. Your coverage starts the month after you sign up. You might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty if you don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
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Frequently asked questions
Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 or older or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure.
There are several ways to apply for Medicare:
- Online at Social Security
- By calling the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772
- By filling out form CMS-40B and sending it to your local Social Security office by fax or mail
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) are the two parts of Medicare that cover hospital and medical costs, respectively.
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