Alyssa Lane
Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, or those with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. There are four types of Medicare coverage, known as parts. To sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance), you can apply online at Social Security, fill out form CMS-40B and send it to your local Social Security office, or call the Social Security Administration. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S., you will need to sign up for Part B. You will receive your Medicare card about three months before your coverage starts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medicare Eligibility | People aged 65 or older, or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure |
| Medicare Parts | Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) |
| Medicare Sign-Up Channels | Online, Phone, Fax, Mail |
| Medicare Card Receipt | Mailed 3 months before coverage starts |
| Medicare Part B Sign-Up | Applicable for residents of Puerto Rico or outside the U.S. |
| Medicare Part B Penalty | Applicable if not signed up for within 3 months of turning 65 |
| Medicare Advantage | No need to be an AARP member to enroll |
| Medicare Enrollment Periods | Annual Enrollment (Oct 15-Dec 7), Open Enrollment (Jan 1-March 31), Special Enrollment (Varies) |
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What You'll Learn
Online via Social Security
Applying for Medicare online via Social Security is the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. You can apply for Medicare online if you are not ready to receive Social Security benefits at 65 because you are still working. You can apply online for Medicare only or may be able to wait until you retire to sign up during a special enrollment period.
To apply online, you will need to create a secure my Social Security account. You will need to indicate whether you want Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Part B (Medical Insurance) when you apply for benefits. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S., you will need to sign up for Part B, as you will get Part A automatically.
If you have Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), you will receive Medicare Parts A and B immediately when you enroll in Social Security disability benefits. If you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you can learn more about Medicare coverage and enrollment. If you are under 65 and disabled, and have been entitled to disability benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months, you will be automatically entitled to Medicare Parts A and B beginning in the 25th month of disability benefit entitlement. You will not need to do anything to enroll in Medicare, and your Medicare card will be mailed to you about three months before your Medicare entitlement date.
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Calling the Railroad Retirement Board
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, you may need to call the Railroad Retirement Board to apply for Medicare. The number to call is 1-877-772-5772. TTY users can call 1-312-751-4701. You can also visit their website at RRB.gov.
If you are under 65 and disabled, and have been entitled to disability benefits under the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months, you will be automatically entitled to Medicare Parts A and B beginning in the 25th month of disability benefit entitlement. You will not need to do anything to enrol in Medicare. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your Medicare entitlement date.
If you are under 65 and have Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), you will get your Medicare benefits the first month you receive disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board.
If you are applying for Medicare Parts A and B, you will need to inform the representative of your choice. You will receive your Medicare card in a welcome package about two weeks after you sign up.
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Signing up for Part A and Part B
Signing up for Medicare Part A and Part B can be done in several ways. Firstly, it is important to note that some people get Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) automatically, while others have to sign up for them. If you are 65 or older, you can enrol online for Parts A and B, or Part A only. You can also apply online if you already have Part A and want to sign up for Part B. This is the fastest and easiest way to sign up and get any financial help you may qualify for. To do this, you will need to create a secure 'my Social Security' account.
If you are under 65, you may still be eligible for Medicare Parts A and B if you have permanent kidney failure or receive disability benefits. If you are under 65 and have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), you should already have Part A and Part B as you are receiving disability benefits.
You can also apply by filling out the relevant forms and sending them to your local Social Security office by fax or mail. If you are signing up for Part B only, you will need to fill out form CMS-40B. If you are signing up during the Special Enrollment Period, you will also need to fill out the Request for Employment Information (CMS-L564). If you have a special situation, fill out the Application for Medicare Part A and B — Special Enrollment Period (Exceptional Conditions) (CMS-10797).
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, you will need to contact the Railroad Retirement Board. You can call them at 1-877-772-5772, or 1-312-751-4701 for TTY users. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S., you will need to sign up for Part B, as you will get Part A automatically.
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Medicare for those under 65
Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 or older or those with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. While Medicare is primarily aimed at those aged 65 and over, people under 65 can also qualify for Medicare if they have specific disabilities.
If you are under 65 and have a disability, you may be eligible for Medicare coverage. The Center for Medicare Advocacy is working on a project to assist State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and Senior Medicare Patrol Programs (SMPs) to reach and serve Medicare beneficiaries under 65. This project aims to increase resources and communication to support younger beneficiaries.
To qualify for Medicare under the age of 65, you must meet certain criteria. Firstly, you must be receiving disability benefits from Social Security. Once you have received these benefits for 24 months, or if you have ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), you will automatically receive Medicare coverage. You will be mailed a welcome package with your Medicare card 3 months before your coverage starts.
It is important to note that Medicare coverage for those under 65 is the same as for those who qualify based on age. The full range of Medicare benefits is available, including hospital, nursing home, home health, physician, and community-based services. There are no illnesses or underlying conditions that disqualify people from Medicare coverage, and the healthcare services do not have to be related to the individual's disability.
If you are under 65 and believe you qualify for Medicare, you can sign up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) by contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can do this online, by phone, or by filling out a form and sending it to your local Social Security office.
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Cancelling Medicare coverage
Medicare is the US health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. It is comprised of Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Some people get Parts A and B automatically, while others have to sign up for them.
If you want to cancel your Medicare coverage, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, you can only cancel Part A if you pay a monthly premium for it. If you don't pay a premium for Part A, you cannot cancel it. If you want to cancel Part A, you can do so at any time by downloading Form CMS-1763 from the Medicare website or by visiting your local Social Security office to receive a paper copy. Make sure you fill out the form completely and include any relevant information, such as your full name and that of anyone filling out the form on your behalf. You'll also need two witnesses to the exchange.
For Part B, you can cancel at any time. If you have recently received a welcome packet notifying you of your automatic enrollment in Original Medicare, you must follow the instructions included to opt out of coverage. This usually involves mailing your Medicare card back. If you don't return the card, you will be responsible for paying the monthly premium for Part B. If you want to keep Part A, make sure you still return the card, and Medicare will send you a new one showing that you only have Part A coverage.
For Part C (Medicare Advantage), you can only cancel during an open enrollment period or special enrollment period. The annual open enrollment period for all Medicare plans goes from October 15 to December 7. To initiate the cancellation, you must contact your Part C provider directly. They will guide you through the process, which usually involves submitting a written request or completing a disenrollment form. If you don't enroll in a new plan after canceling your current Part C policy, you will be automatically enrolled in an Original Medicare plan.
For Part D (prescription drugs), the process is similar to Part C. You can only cancel during an open enrollment period or special enrollment period, which is the same as for Part C. You will need to contact your Part D provider, who will guide you through the process of submitting a written request or completing a disenrollment form.
It's important to keep in mind that if you cancel your Medicare coverage without a replacement plan lined up, you may be responsible for all healthcare costs moving forward. You can sign up for new coverage during the next open enrollment period or special enrollment period, if eligible, but you may be subject to late enrollment penalties.
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Frequently asked questions
You can apply for Medicare online at Social Security. You will need to create a secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits.
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, you can call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.
If you live outside the US, you will need to sign up for Part B. You will get Part A automatically.
If you live in Puerto Rico, you will need to sign up for Part B. You will get Part A automatically.
If you have Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), you will receive Medicare Parts A and B immediately when you enroll in Social Security disability benefits.
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