The only way to sign up for original Medicare online is through SSA.gov, the official Social Security website. If you’re eligible and ready to enroll, you can start a new application on SSA.gov. While the SSA manages the eligibility component of Medicare, you don't have to be receiving Social Security benefits to get Medicare.
What is the easiest way to sign up for Medicare?
To Apply Online, Just Follow These Few Simple Steps:
- Go to Social Security’s Website
- Click on the “Menu” Tab.
- In the “Benefits” section, choose “Medicare”.
- Scroll down and click the “Apply for Medicare Only” button. (you will only be applying for medical coverage — not social security payments)
- In the “Apply and Complete” section, choose “Start a New Application”.
- The site will guide you from there.
How early should you sign up for Medicare?
If you’re under 65 years old, you might be eligible for Medicare:
- If you receive disability benefits from Social Security or certain disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) for at least 24 months in a row
- If you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- If you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ...
How far in advance to sign up for Medicare?
You can sign up as early as three months before the month in which you turn 65 and as late as three months after your 65th-birthday month. To avoid any delay in coverage, enroll before you turn 65, says Joe Baker, of the Medicare Rights Center.
What information do I need to sign up for Medicare?
- Your job-based insurance pays first, and Medicare pays second.
- If you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A, you can choose to sign up when you turn 65 (or anytime later).
- You can wait until you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) to sign up for Part B, and you won’t pay a late enrollment penalty.
How do I set up my Medicare account online?
1. Go to the MyMedicare.gov Account Creation PageLook for the Log In button on the top right corner of the site.Click Log In.From the login screen, click Create an Account Now.
Is there an online Medicare account?
MyMedicare.gov is Medicare's free, secure, online service for managing personal information regarding Original Medicare benefits and services. Original Medicare beneficiaries can create an account with MyMedicare.gov and use it to check information about their coverage, enrollment status, and Medicare claims.
When should you start the process of signing up for Medicare?
Generally, you're first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. If you sign up for Medicare, stop your Marketplace coverage so it ends when your Medicare coverage starts. See how to change from Marketplace to Medicare.
Do I automatically get Medicare when I 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.)
Is my Social Security account the same as my Medicare account?
A: They're not the same thing, but they do have many similarities, and most older Americans receive benefits simultaneously from both programs. Social Security, which was enacted in 1935, is a government-run income benefit for retirees who have worked – and paid Social Security taxes – for at least ten years.
What is the difference between Medicare gov and MyMedicare gov?
MyMedicare.gov has all the functionality and navigation that exists on Medicare.gov, with a similar looking site and identical menu options. The difference is that on MyMedicare.gov, you can create a secure account to keep all of your personal health-care information confidential.
What documents do I 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...
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.
How much is Medicare Part A?
Most people don't pay a monthly premium for Part A (sometimes called "premium-free Part A"). If you buy Part A, you'll pay up to $499 each month in 2022. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $499.
Do I need to contact Social Security when I turn 65?
Is it automatic when I turn 65? To enroll in Medicare, most people need to contact Social Security directly. Do this before your 65th birthday to avoid a lapse in health coverage.
Do they automatically send you a Medicare card?
You should automatically receive your Medicare card three months before your 65th birthday. You will automatically be enrolled in Medicare after 24 months and should receive your Medicare card in the 25th month.
What do I need to do before I turn 65?
Turning 65 Soon? Here's a Quick Retirement ChecklistPrepare for Medicare. ... Consider Additional Health Insurance. ... Review Your Social Security Benefits Plan. ... Plan Ahead for Long-Term Care Costs. ... Review Your Retirement Accounts and Investments. ... Update Your Estate Planning Documents.
When can I join a health or drug plan?
Find out when you can sign up for or change your Medicare coverage. This includes your Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare drug coverage (Part D).
Types of Medicare health plans
Medicare Advantage, Medicare Savings Accounts, Cost Plans, demonstration/pilot programs, and Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
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.
