Applying for Medicare by phone is just as easy as applying for Medicare online. Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (for TTY users, it’s 1-800-325-0778) and tell the representative that you wish to apply for Medicare. If you have Railroad Retirement, you can contact the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
Railroad Retirement Board
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of the United States government created in 1935 to administer a social insurance program providing retirement benefits to the country's railroad workers.
How early should you sign up for Medicare?
Dec 01, 2021 · Call (800) 516-9929 to speak to a licensed agent about Medicare over the phone You also need to know that Medicare will not send you any …
How to sign up for Medicare the first time?
Jan 01, 2022 · Ways to sign up: Online (at Social Security) – It’s the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. (You’ll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits.) Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
What is the best time to sign up for Medicare?
Dec 23, 2021 · You can sign up for Medicare over the phone as well. You can call the Social Security Administration and ask to start an application. You can also schedule an appointment so you can have an interview with a representative at a convenient time. You cannot complete the entire process over the phone.
How to get help signing up for Medicare?
Sep 24, 2021 · Signing up by phone. To apply for original Medicare by phone, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Be prepared to wait, though. You may not always get help immediately, especially if other callers are ahead of you. You may want to schedule an appointment for a phone interview at a time that works for you.
How long does it take to apply for Medicare?
Your initial enrollment window for Medicare spans seven months, beginning three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ending three months after that month. During this time, you have the option to sign up for Medicare online. The process is fairly simple and should take 15 minutes or less.
Where do I sign up for Medicare near me?
You can do this online, by telephone or at your local Social Security office. You can use the Social Security Office Locator to find a local office near you. You can also apply for Medicare at the Social Security website or by calling its national, toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213.
Do you have to sign up for Medicare or does it happen automatically?
Medicare will enroll you in Part B automatically. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If you're not getting disability benefits and Medicare when you turn 65, you'll need to call or visit your local Social Security office, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
What do you need to apply for Medicare?
What documents do I need to enroll in Medicare?your Social Security number.your date and place of birth.your citizenship status.the name and Social Security number of your current spouse and any former spouses.the date and place of any marriages or divorces you've had.More items...
How do I enroll in Medicare for the first time?
Apply online (at Social Security) – This is the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. You'll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for Social Security benefits online. Call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
What is the phone number for Medicare?
(800) 633-4227Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services / Customer service
Are you automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when you turn 65?
Yes. If you are receiving benefits, the Social Security Administration will automatically sign you up at age 65 for parts A and B of Medicare. (Medicare is operated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, but Social Security handles enrollment.)
How long before you turn 65 do you apply for Medicare?
3 monthsGenerally, you're first eligible starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. If you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible, you might have to wait to sign up and go months without coverage. You might also pay a monthly penalty for as long as you have Part B.
Why do you have to wait 24 months for Medicare?
The original purposes of the 24month waiting period were to limit costs to the Medicare trust funds at a time when many workers might have other health insurance coverage and to ensure that Medicare protection is extended only to persons whose disabilities are severe and long lasting.
Is Medicare Part A free?
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Most people get Part A for free, but some have to pay a premium for this coverage. To be eligible for premium-free Part A, an individual must be entitled to receive Medicare based on their own earnings or those of a spouse, parent, or child.Dec 1, 2021
Can I get Medicare Part B for free?
While Medicare Part A – which covers hospital care – is free for most enrollees, Part B – which covers doctor visits, diagnostics, and preventive care – charges participants a premium. Those premiums are a burden for many seniors, but here's how you can pay less for them.Jan 3, 2022
How do you pay for Medicare Part B if you are not collecting Social Security?
If you have Medicare Part B but you are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits yet, you will get a bill called a “Notice of Medicare Premium Payment Due” (CMS-500). You will need to make arrangements to pay this bill every month.
Check when to sign up
Answer a few questions to find out when you can sign up for Part A and Part B based on your situation.
Check how to sign up
Answer a few questions to find out if you need to sign up or if you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B.
When coverage starts
The date your Part A and Part B coverage will start depends on when you sign up.
How long does it take to sign up for Medicare Advantage?
As mentioned above, this is the seven-month period that begins three months before you turn 65, includes your birth month and lasts for three additional months.
What do you need to know before enrolling in Medicare?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers five important things to know before you enroll in Medicare: Some people get Medicare automatically, and some have to sign up.
How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
According to the Social Security Administration, most people age 65 or older are eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) “if they have worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough” (that is, 10 years or 40 quarters). This is called premium-free Part A. Enrolling in Medicare medical insurance (Part B) requires paying a monthly premium.
When does Medicare Part A start?
If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for Special Enrollment, you can sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B during the Medicare General Enrollment Period, which lasts from January 1 through March 31 every year. Your coverage won’t begin until July 1, however.
What is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers inpatient care in a hospital or at a skilled nursing facility (for a limited time, following a hospital stay). Part A also pays for some home health care and hospice care. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is optional and covers services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, ...
Do you have to be 65 to get Medicare Supplement?
To be eligible for a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan, you must be enrolled in Original Medicare and live in the area that the plan you want services. Not all states require Medicare Supplement Insurance plans to be available to people under 65, even if they qualify for Original Medicare because of a disability.
What happens if you don't sign up for Medicare Part B?
If you don't sign up for Medicare Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period, you could potentially have to pay a Part B late enrollment period for the rest of the time that you have Part B coverage.
When to Apply for Medicare
Medicare is separate from your application for Social Security income benefits. People age into Medicare at age 65, regardless of whether they are taking retirement income benefits yet. If you are a citizen age 65 or older and need medical insurance, you are entitled to enroll in Medicare.
How to Apply Online for Medicare
Social Security offers you a quick online application for Medicare that can be completed in fewer than ten minutes. You do not have to be receiving income benefits to get Medicare. Just visit the Social Security website and follow the links about applying for Medicare.
How to Apply for Medicare by Phone
Filing for Medicare by phone can take several weeks, so use the other enrollment methods if you are short on time.
How to Apply for Medicare in Person
Some people prefer to apply for Medicare in person at a local Social Security office. This can be a convenient option if you are very close to turning 65 and need to get your application processed quickly.
Common Questions About Applying for Medicare
You are eligible to apply for Medicare at age 65. If Medicare will be your primary insurance, you should apply for Medicare at some point in the 3 months before your 65th birth month.
Applying for Medicare with our FREE Assistance
Still concerned about how to sign up for Medicare? Don’t want to go in it alone or feel unsure about your Medicare enrollment dates?
How to start marketing specific plans?
The easiest way to start marketing specific plans or carriers is to go to the carrier's agent portal and select a piece they've created.
What are the different email marketing platforms?
Some popular options include Mailchimp, Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign, and HubSpot, but there are literally hundreds of email marketing platforms.
How long is the cooling off period for a product?
A: There used to be required verbiage in the guidelines around a cooling-off period (48 hours originally, which then moved to 24) for presenting or speaking about any non-health-related products. To stay safe, many compliance experts still advise agents to stick to that cooling-off period whenever possible.
Is Medicare Advantage a perfect system?
Even still, they're not perfect. We often hear from clients in January and February that they had no clue they signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan. So, it's not a perfect system, but it's strict for a reason. Sometimes, it's more helpful to focus on what you CAN do versus what you can't.
Can you call Medicare Advantage?
In general, you can't make outbound calls to sell Medicare Advantage plans. There are a couple of exceptions, like calling existing clients or returning phone calls, but it's mostly off-limits. In order to sell Medicare Advantage over the phone, the obvious hurdle is finding a way to get on the phone with prospects!
If you already receive benefits from Social Security
If you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. You will not need to do anything to enroll.
If you are not getting Social Security benefits
If you are not getting Social Security benefits, you can apply for retirement benefits online. If you would like to file for Medicare only, you can apply by calling 1-800-772-1213.
If you are under age 65 and disabled
If you are under age 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 Part A and Part B beginning the 25th month of disability benefit entitlement. You will not need to do anything to enroll in Medicare.
