You have a seven-month window to sign up – starting three months before the month you turn 65 and ending three months after your birthday month (called the "initial enrollment period"). It's a good idea to sign up before your birthday month so you can get coverage as early as possible.
Full Answer
When should I sign up for Medicare?
Getting Medicare is your choice. If you want Medicare, sign up when you’re first eligible for: Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. Part B covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
When can I make changes to my Medicare health or prescription drug?
The Annual Election Period (AEP), which runs from October 15 through December 7, is a good time to make changes to your Medicare health or prescription drug coverage. Take a look at the chart below to learn about the different changes you can make during this period.
How do I sign up for Medicare?
You typically sign up for Medicare through the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can go to the website at ssa.gov. Or, go in person to a Social Security office. You can reach the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM, in all U.S. time zones.
When can I sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B?
when first eligible (usually when turning 65). Answer a few questions to check when and how to sign up based on your personal situation. Learn about Part A and Part B sign up periods and when coverage starts. Answer a few questions to find out when you can sign up for Part A and Part B based on your situation.
At what time should you sign up for Medicare?
Medicare eligibility starts at age 65. Your initial window to enroll is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after it. Seniors are generally advised to sign up on time to avoid penalties that could prove quite costly over the course of retirement.
Do you have to sign up for Medicare or is it automatic 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.)
What is the first thing to do to sign up for Medicare?
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 day of the month does Medicare start when you turn 65?
For most people, Medicare coverage starts the first day of the month you turn 65. Some people delay enrollment and remain on an employer plan. Others may take premium-free Part A and delay Part B. If someone is on Social Security Disability for 24 months, they qualify for Medicare.
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.
Can I sign up for Medicare at age 70?
The initial open enrollment period for Medicare Part A and Part B begins three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after your birthday. Even if you are continuing to work past your sixty-fifth birthday, it is important to sign up for Medicare, especially if you have worked for more than 10 years.
When should I sign up for Medicare Part B if I am still working?
You may be required to get Medicare Part B even when you're still working. There are two situations in which you must get Part B when you turn 65. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees. If you're covered by a spouse's employer, and the employer requires covered dependents to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65.
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...
Do you automatically get Medicare with Social Security?
If you are already getting benefits from Social Security or the RRB, you will automatically get Part A and Part B starting on the first day of the month when you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A and Part B will start the first day of the prior month.
Does Medicare start on the first day of your birth month?
Your Medicare coverage generally starts on the first day of your birthday month. If your birthday falls on the first day of the month, your Medicare coverage starts the first day of the previous month. If you qualify for Medicare because of a disability or illness, in most cases your IEP is also seven months.
What are Medicare dates?
General Medicare Enrollment Period: If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up during Medicare's General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), and your coverage will start July 1.
Does Medicare kick in at 65?
Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You're first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig's disease).
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.
When coverage starts
The date your Part A and Part B coverage will start depends on when you sign up.
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.
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 is Medicare Supplement Insurance?
How to apply for Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, provides coverage for certain out-of-pocket Medicare costs. These expenses can include things like deductibles, coinsurance, copayments and emergency care received outside of the U.S.
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.
What does Medicare send you after you apply?
After you apply. After you are enrolled, CMS will send you a “Welcome to Medicare” packet and your red, white and blue Medicare card in the mail. You will also receive the “Medicare & You” handbook, which includes important information about your coverage.
How to enroll in a health insurance plan?
One way to enroll is to first connect with a licensed insurance agent who will help you review available plan options in your area and assist you with the application process.
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.
When is the best time to enroll in Medicare Supplement?
Medicare Supplement insurance – this coverage may help pay your Medicare Part A and Part B costs, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You need Part A and Part B to qualify. Usually the best time to enroll is during your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. That 6-month period starts the month you’re both 65 or older, and enrolled in Part B.
What is a stand alone Medicare plan?
Stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) – you might want this type of plan if you need prescription drug coverage. You need Part A or Part B to qualify. If you don’t enroll during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), you might have to wait to sign up.
What is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) – this program gives you an alternative way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits (many plans also include prescription drug benefits too). You need Part A and Part B to qualify, and then the plan (instead of the government) manages those benefits for you.
When does IEP start?
So if your 65th birthday is in November, your IEP runs from August through February. Your IEP is different if you’re not yet 65, but you qualify for Medicare by disability.
Do you have to take action if you are automatically enrolled in Medicare?
But even if you’re automatically enrolled in traditional Medicare, you do have to take action if you want other Medicare coverage.
Is Medicare Part A premium free?
Enroll in Medicare Part A as soon as they’re eligible. Even if your employer plan has hospital coverage, Part A is premium-free for most people. If your employer plan has hospital coverage, and you have a hospital stay, your plan and Medicare Part A will coordinate benefits to work out payment of your hospital costs.
Is it a good idea to sign up for Medicare?
Then, it’s usually a good idea to sign up for any other type of Medicare coverage you want, promptly. Here’s a quick rundown on the main Medicare coverage options you have besides Original Medicare – and when to sign up.
When is the enrollment period for Medicare?
Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. Drop your stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan. Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 each year.
How long is the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period?
Or, you already had Medicare Part A and you’ve just enrolled in Medicare Part B. Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period (OEP): this 6-month period starts the first month that you’re both age 65 or over, and enrolled in Medicare Part B.
What is Medicare Supplement OEP?
Your Medicare Supplement OEP is when you can buy a Medicare Supplement insurance plan without risk of being turned down or charged more if you have a health condition.
What is Medicare Part C?
Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. You want to do any of these…. Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plan enrollment period. Sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
How long is a SEP period?
The month after employment-based health insurance ends. Your SEP Period is usually 2 full months after the month of the triggering events. Your situation with a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) Medicare Advantage/PDP Special Enrollment Period.
How long does Medicare enrollment last?
You’re eligible for Medicare because you turn age 65. Initial Enrollment Period: the 7-month period that begins 3 months before your birthday month, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after your birthday month.
What is the name of the program where you drop your coverage?
You drop your coverage in Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
When does Medicare Part B start?
If you happen to miss the seven-month sign-up window for Medicare Part B, you’ll have to wait until the next “general enrollment period” which runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 with benefits beginning the following July 1.
How long can you delay Medicare Part B?
This means that you can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B, and are not subject to the 10 percent late-enrollment penalty as long as you sign up for within eight months of losing that coverage .
How long does it take to get insurance for my 65th birthday?
You can enroll any time during the “initial enrollment period,” which is a seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of and the three months after your 65th birthday. It’s best to enroll three months before your birth month to ensure your coverage starts when you turn 65. If you happen to miss the seven-month sign-up ...
How to enroll if you are not receiving Social Security?
If you’re not receiving Social Security, you’ll need to enroll either online, over the phone at 800-772-1213 or through your local Social Security office.
Does Medicare cover prescriptions?
Be aware that original Medicare does not cover prescription medications, so if you don't have credible drug coverage from an employer or union, you'll need to buy a Part D drug plan from a private insurance company during your initial enrollment if you want coverage. If you don't, you'll incur a premium penalty -- 1 percent of the average national premium ($33.13 in 2015) for every month you don't have coverage -- if you enroll later.
Is Medicare enrollment confusing?
The strict rules and timetables for Medicare enrollment can be confusing to many new retirees, so you're wise to plan ahead. Here's a simplified rundown of what to know. First, a quick review.
How much does Medicare Part A cost in 2017?
However, recipients who pay premiums for Part A coverage will see their costs rise modestly next year. The maximum cost for coverage is set to rise to $413 in 2017, ...
How many prescription drug plans are there in 2017?
The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 746 plans will be offered across the country in 2017, a 16% decrease over the previous year.
Is Medicare rising on fixed income?
Medicare's rising costs tend to be the hardest on Americans who operate on a fixed income. Healthcare costs have risen for years, and 2017 isn't likely to be any different. As always, shopping around and taking steps to stay healthy remain the best ways to keep your healthcare costs in check.
Does Medicare have a cap on Part D deductible?
For 2016, that number was $360, but that's getting bumped up to $400 in 2017. Of course, some Medicare drug plans don't have a deductible at all , so this change isn't likely to affect them.
Do Medicare recipients pay premiums?
Even though most Medicare recipients don't pay premiums for Part A coverage, they still incur a cost when they use the benefit. And those costs are heading higher in 2017.
Will Medicare Part D coverage increase in 2017?
Here's a table that helps to summarize the changes: Monthly costs to for Medicare Part D coverage, which helps to cover the costs of prescription drugs, are also expected to jump in 2017.
Is Medicare a social program?
Medicare provides healthcare coverage to tens of millions of Americans, making it one of the country's most important social programs. With each passing year, the government makes a few tweaks to the way the program operates, making it critical for current and future recipients alike to keep up with what's new.
When does Medicare start?
But late enrollees must wait for a General Enrollment Period that runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year — and Medicare coverage does not begin until July 1.
When do you have to switch to Medicare?
Federal law requires that you switch to Medicare at age 65. Like Cobra, marketplace coverage is secondary to Medicare; switching to Medicare later must be done during the General Enrollment Period, leaving you exposed to possible long coverage delays like the one experienced by Mr. Farrell — plus penalties.
What is Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act?
The legislation — the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act, also would eliminate coverage gaps now experienced by enrollees during the Initial Enrollment Period and General Enrollment Period. The legislation was introduced in Congress last year, and will be reintroduced this year.
How long does Medicare coverage last?
And the timing can be complicated, because Medicare Part A coverage is retroactive for six months for enrollees who qualify during those months.
How much is Medicare premium in 2019?
In 2019, the base monthly premium is $33.19, so a seven-month delay would tack $2.32 onto your plan’s premium. Late enrollment also exposes you to significant gaps while waiting for Medicare coverage. Medicare has three enrollment periods.
How old was Tony Farrell when he switched to Medicare?
Tony Farrell turned 65 four years ago — the age when most people shift their health coverage to Medicare. But he was still employed and covered by his company’s group insurance.
When did Farrell apply for Medicare?
Mr. Farrell, for example, applied for Medicare one day after general enrollment ended, in April 2016. “I didn’t realize until too late that I had missed the deadline,” he said. As a result, his Part B coverage did not begin until July 2017 — he was fortunate to find a commercial insurance policy to plug that gap while he waited.
