- You’ll need to prove that you’re eligible to enroll in Medicare.
- You might need to submit documents that verify your age, citizenship, military service, and work history.
- Social Security can help you get copies of any documents you no longer have.
What documents do you need to sign up for Medicare?
When applying for Medicare in person, you’ll need to bring the following documents with you:
- Your Social Security card (or other proof of your SSN)
- An original copy of a document proving your age, such as a birth certificate, census record, or vaccine record – if possible, it should be from before you turned five
- Documentation proving legal residency, such as a U.S. ...
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). ...
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 to sign up for Medicare the first time?
You are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B if:
- Sign up for a Medicare Part D drug plan.
- Buy a Medigap supplement insurance policy.
- Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.
What do I need in order 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...
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 are the three steps of the Medicare application process?
Step 1: Find out if you need to sign up for Medicare Part A or B. Step 2: Decide if you want Medicare Part B benefits. Step 3: Decide if you want extra coverage with 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.)
Medicare basics
Start here. Learn the parts of Medicare, how it works, and what it costs.
Sign up
First, you’ll sign up for Parts A and B. Find out when and how to sign up, and when coverage starts.
How long does it take to sign up for Medicare?
Initial enrollment period. This is a 7-month window around your 65th birthday when you can sign up for Medicare. It begins 3 months before your birth month, includes the month of your birthday, and extends 3 months after your birth month. During this time, you can enroll in all parts of Medicare without a penalty.
How long do you have to sign up for Medicare if you have delayed enrollment?
If you delayed Medicare enrollment for an approved reason, you can later enroll during a special enrollment period. You have 8 months from the end of your coverage or the end of your employment to sign up without penalty. Medicare Advantage open enrollment (January 1–March 31).
What to do if you don't have birth certificate?
if you don’t have a record of your birth, other documents to prove your age, such as your immunization records, school records, state census records, insurance records, or medical records.
What are the parts of Medicare?
Together, parts A and B are known as original Medicare. You’ll need to enroll in original Medicare before you can enroll in any other Medicare parts. Other parts of Medicare include: Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Part D, which is prescription drug coverage.
What age do you have to be to get a disability?
the names and ages of any children you have who are under age 18 (children up to age 19 who are still in high school also need to be mentioned) the names and ages of any children you have who had a disability before age 22.
When is the open enrollment period for Medicare?
Open enrollment period (October 15–December 7). During this time, you can switch from original Medicare (parts A and B) to Part C (Medicare Advantage), or from Part C back to original Medicare. You can also switch Part C plans or add, remove, or change a Part D plan. General enrollment period (January 1–March 31).
Do you have to provide information to Medicare?
In some cases, Medicare and Social Security might already have some of this information; however, you’ll be asked to provide any information they don’t have. For example, you might need to submit documents that prove your: age. citizenship. income history. military service.
How long does it take to sign up for Medicare?
You may apply for Medicare online through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. The application process typically takes no more than 10 minutes to complete. By phone.
When do you start enrolling in Medicare?
However, you may begin the enrollment process three months before turning 65, which is when your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) typically begins. Learn more about the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period.
How to apply for medicare over the phone?
By phone. Call 1-800-772-1213 between 7am and 7pm Monday through Friday to apply over the phone. If you are hard of hearing, you may dial 1-800-325-0778. In person. Visit your local Social Security office to apply for Medicare in person. If you're eligible for or enrolled in Medicare and you want to compare your Medicare plan options, ...
Do you have to provide military records for Medicare?
There are some specific rules concerning Medicare and veteran’s health insurance benefits, and you may have to provide records of your military service if you are receiving any such military or veteran’s benefits.
Is Medicare Part C the same as Original Medicare?
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) provide the same benefits as Original Medicare, and many plans may offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. If you are eligible for Original Medicare, you may also be eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan.
Signing up for Medicare might make sense even if you have private insurance
Jeffrey M. Green has over 40 years of experience in the financial industry. He has written dozens of articles on investing, stocks, ETFs, asset management, cryptocurrency, insurance, and more.
How Medicare Works
Before diving into how Medicare works with your existing health coverage, it’s helpful to understand how it works on its own. Medicare has four main parts: A, B, C, and D. You can also purchase Medicare supplement insurance, known as Medigap.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
Medicare has a few enrollment periods, but the initial enrollment period may be the most important. This is when you first become eligible for Medicare. And if you miss the deadline to sign up for Parts B and D, you could face expensive penalties .
How Medicare Works If You Have Private Insurance
If you have private insurance, you may want to sign up for Parts A, B, D—and possibly a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) and Medigap, once you become eligible. Or not. There are reasons both for and against. Consider how the following types of coverage work with Medicare to help you decide.
Primary and Secondary Payers
Your Medicare and private insurance benefits are coordinated, which means they work together. Typically, a primary payer will pay insurance claims first (up to plan limits) and a secondary payer will only kick in for costs not covered by the primary payer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, you can delay signing up for Medicare without penalty, as long as you are covered by another type of private insurance. Generally, if you are eligible for premium-free Part A, you should still sign up for it, even if you have additional private insurance coverage. 18
