Enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B
If you're near or at age 65
If you're almost age 65 and you already receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits through early retirement you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B when you reach age 65. About 3 months prior to your 65th birthday, you will be sent an Initial Enrollment Package containing information about Medicare, a questionnaire, and your red-white-and-blue Medicare card.
If you receive the Initial Enrollment Package and you want both Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), sign your Medicare card and keep it in your wallet.
If you're almost age 65 and you're not receiving early retirement Social Security benefits, you can apply for Medicare during your 7-month initial enrollment period (IEP). Your IEP begins 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. Note: to apply for Medicare Parts A and B, you must contact the Social Security Adminstration yourself at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213. You will also need to sign up separately for a Part D plan to cover your prescription drug benefits To apply for Part D, see Medicare Part D.
If you are younger than 65 & entitled to Medicare because of a disability
If you are younger than 65 and receive disability benefits under Social Security or Railroad Retirement, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B in the 25th month of your disability payments, or sooner if you have either end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). You will need to sign up separately for a Part D plan to cover your prescription drug benefits.
During the 24th month of your SSDI payments, you will also be sent an Initial Enrollment Package containing information about Medicare, a questionnaire, and your red-white-and-blue Medicare card.
If you want both Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), sign your Medicare card and keep it in your wallet.End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
If you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) — permanent kidney failure — you can get Medicare Parts A and B within 3 months of your first dialysis treatment. If you are unable to work, you will have to file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to get monthly SSDI payments. You can get Medicare even if you are not receiving SSDI benefits. You will need to sign up separately for a Part D plan to cover your prescription drug benefits.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
If you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B when you begin receiving SSDI payments. Congress waived the 24-month waiting period for people with this condition. You will need to sign up separately for a Part D plan to cover your prescription drug benefits.If you delay enrolling in Part B
If you don't want Part B coverage because you are covered by an employer plan and you automatically received Medicare’s initial enrollment package, sign the form included in your package and check the box after "I do not want medical insurance". Return the form to the Social Security Administration in the envelope provided. Be sure to return the form before the date shown on the card so you won't owe a monthly premium.
If you turn down Part B and don’t have other coverage, but later decide you want Part B coverage, you can only enroll in Part B during the annual General Enrollment Period (January through March of every year). Your Part B benefits will not be effective until July of that year. You may pay a late enrollment penalty of 10% for each 12-month period you could have had Part B coverage, but did not take it.
For beneficiaries 65 and older, this penalty is for life, and you will always pay more for your Part B coverage than others.
If you have Medicare because of a disability and you are charged a late enrollment penalty, the penalty will be waived when you reach 65 and qualify for Medicare because of your age.
Note: If you or your spouse is actively employed and you're covered by an employer group health plan, or if you are considering retiring with employer-sponsored health benefits, you may not need Part B or Part D until you are no longer covered under the employer's plan. If you sign up for Part B within 8 months after your employer benefits end, you will not be penalized for late enrollment, but you must sign up for Part D benefits within 63 days. See Medicare & Other Health Insurance Coverage for more information.
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Page updated July 23, 2008