How to Apply for Medicare
Filing for Medicare is simple. You can apply online, by phone or in person at the Social Security office.
Applying for Medicare can feel daunting, but your Medicare enrollment will be easier with us helping you, and our services cost you nothing. We walk hundreds of people through how to sign-up for Medicare every year, so continue reading on for everything you need to know to apply for Medicare.
The Social Security Administration handles Medicare eligibility and applications for Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (outpatient medical insurance). They offer several easy options so you can choose how to apply for Medicare. If you are aging into Medicare, you may apply as early as 3 months prior to the month of your 65th birthday. You’ll find that getting started early is a plus so that you’ll have your new Medicare card in hand before your effective date.
This is your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period to enroll in Parts A and B. (It is also your enrollment period for Part D. Since prescription drugs are not covered by Original Medicare, you purchase Part D separately from an insurance company. You do not enroll in it through Social Security because Part D is voluntary.)
Next, we’ll cover when to apply for Medicare.
Learn More About Medicare for Free: Enroll in 6-Day Medicare Mini Course.
Fill in Name, Email, and phone to get the 2022 Enrolling in Medicare Guide
2023 ENROLLMENT GUIDE LINKS TO APPLY FOR MEDICARE: PART B ENROLLMENT FORM REQUEST FROM EMPLOYER FORM
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. You can also qualify for Medicare early due to certain disabilities, having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), or End-Stage Renal disease (ESRD) and need a transplant or on dialysis.
Don’t plan on Medicare reminding you to enroll when it’s time to sign-up either. This can be especially important for those who live out of the country.
If you are already taking Social Security income benefits or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B at age 65. Your card should arrive 1-2 months before you turn 65. This time horizon also applies to those who qualify early due to disability. However, you will not automatically receive Part B benefits if you live in Puerto Rico. This means you will need to apply for Part B even if you receive Social Security benefits before age 65.
If you are NOT yet taking retirement benefits, then you will need to submit a Medicare application yourself. The government assumes you’ll know when to enroll. Before we take a look at the timeline for when and how to register for Medicare, feel free to watch the video below to if you are turning 65 and New to Medicare BUT ARE NOT DRAWING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS (GETTING A SOCIAL SECURITY OR DISABILITY OR RAILROAD CHECK).
WATCH VIDEO BELOW TO LEARN HOW TO APPLY FOR MEDICARE IF YOU ARE NOT YET DRAWING SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN TURNING 65
Initial Enrollment Period
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare Parts A, B and D last 7 months. It begins 3 months before your 65th birthday month and runs for 3 months after your birth month. Enrolling in Medicare during your IEP means that you will have no late penalties. There is also no pre-existing condition waiting periods.
When to register for Medicare Parts A, B and D depends on whether Medicare will be your primary coverage, or whether you still have employer coverage.
Starting in 2023, there are changes to Medicare enrollment periods that will help people enroll with fewer gaps in coverage. Two of these changes are to the Initial Enrollment Period and General Enrollment Period.
How has the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) changed in 2023?
If you are turning 65 and you do not have coverage based on current work, it is usually best to enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). The IEP is the seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday. Before 2023, people who enrolled in Medicare during the last three months of their IEP had to wait up to three months before their coverage would begin. Starting in 2023, that gap in coverage is eliminated.
When does Medicare coverage start?
Coverage is now effective the first of the month after the month of enrollment for those who enroll in the last three months of their IEP. For example, if you turn 65 in May 2023, your IEP begins in February 2023 and ends in August 2023.
If you enroll in Medicare in February, March, or April: Medicare coverage begins May 1.
If you enroll in May: Coverage begins June 1.
If you enroll in June: Coverage begins July 1.
If you enroll in July: Coverage begins August 1.
If you enroll in August: Coverage begins September 1.
What is the General Enrollment Period, and How has the
General Enrollment Period (GEP) changed in 2023?
The General Enrollment Period (GEP) is the time period every year from Jan. 1 to March 31 when you can enroll in Medicare Part B for the first time if you missed your IEP and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Previously, coverage for individuals who enrolled in Medicare using the GEP would not begin until July 1. Starting in 2023, people who enroll in Medicare during the GEP will have their coverage begin the first of the month following the month they enroll. For example, if you enroll in Medicare in January, your coverage will begin Feb. 1. As of January 1, 2023, enrollments made during the GEP are effective the first of the next month. This means that if you enroll in Medicare on January 20, for example, your coverage will be effective on February 1—not July 1 like in past years.
Note that enrolling in Medicare during the GEP may mean you have to pay a Part B late enrollment penalty.
For help with Medicare enrollment questions, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) by visiting www.shiphelp.org or calling 877-839-2675.
Download this Change to Medicare Enrollment Periods fact sheet to share and keep this information:
Watch this Video if you are losing your employee coverage
or dropping group coverage to enroll in Part B instead.
How to Apply for Medicare
There are several ways to apply for Medicare, so you will likely find one option that best fits your schedule. Remember, since Medicare provides individual coverage, you will have your own application to complete.
Many Medicare beneficiaries prefer to sign up for Medicare online without having to leave home 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, create an account, and follow the links about applying for Medicare.
To apply for both SS retirement benefits and Medicare at the same time, visit this link: https://www.ssa.gov/retire
To apply for just Medicare, visit this link: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/
While you wait for Social Security to process your request, our friendly agents can help you learn your Medicare Supplement insurance options. We’ll provide you with resources and make sure your coverage is ready to go by the time you get your card in hand!
Enrolling in Medicare online is certainly the easiest, but occasionally people run into problems because some of their data is incorrect in Social Security’s system. If that happens, you can consider signing up by phone. Let’s take a look at that next.
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. 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 at 1-877-772-5772. Sometimes you will be helped immediately. If the volume of calls is high, Social Security will schedule a telephone appointment with you to take your application over the phone.
Your SS representative may send you some forms to complete. Generally, these forms are simple. One caveat about phone applications for Medicare is that they take longer. The forms have to be mailed to you, and then you complete them and mail them back. This can cause delays. Use the phone enrollment option only if you have a month or two lead time before your intended Medicare effective date, so our SS representative may send you some forms to complete. Generally, these forms are simple.
One forewarning about phone applications for Medicare is that they take longer. The forms have to be mailed to you, and then you complete them and mail them back. This can cause delays. Use the phone enrollment option only if you have a month or two lead time before your intended Medicare effective date.
Finally, there are some people who just feel better handling their Medicare enrollment in person. So let’s close by going over how to apply for Medicare in person.
How to Apply for Medicare in Person
Get medicare at your local Social Security office.
Some people prefer to submit their Medicare application 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.
Visit the Social Security website to search for the nearest office in your state. When you meet with a representative, ask for a printout that shows that you have applied for Medicare Part A & B. This form will give you all the information you need to move forward with your Medicare Supplement application and/or Part D prescription drug plan.
You can also ask the representative about your Medicare costs, if you paid the necessary payroll taxes for premium-free Part A, if you are subject to Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) due to having a higher income, and your payment options. For example, if you are not receiving Social Security benefits, you can pay a direct quarterly bill or you can pay online monthly.
Common Questions About Applying for Medicare
Medicare is a national health insurance program that offers hospital and medical insurance through two different parts. Medicare Part A provides inpatient hospital coverage, hospice care, skilled nursing facility, home health care, and more. Part B provides outpatient services including doctor visits, surgeries, durable medical equipment, and more. Medicare does not cover 100% of the cost of these services. When is open enrollment for Medicare?
Your open enrollment for Medicare itself is based on your birthday. It’s a seven-month Medicare enrollment period window that begins 3 months before your 65th birthday month. Register for Medicare within this window to avoid penalties. Be sure not to confuse this enrollment period with the Annual Election Period (AEP) in the fall.
In other words – how long does it take to get your Medicare card after applying? In most cases, you will receive your Medicare card about 3 weeks after you apply. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your card will just show up in your mailbox about 2 months before you turn 65. When you receive it, be sure that you do not forget to enroll in Part D – if you need drug coverage – before your Initial Enrollment Period ends.
In other words – how long does it take to get your Medicare card after applying? In most cases, you will receive your Medicare card about 3 weeks after you apply. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your card will just show up in your mailbox about 2 months before you turn 65. When you receive it, be sure that you do not forget to enroll in Part D – if you need drug coverage – before your Initial Enrollment Period ends.
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?
You don’t have to submit your Medicare application alone. We are here to help you register for Medicare.
If Medicare will be your primary health insurance, and you’d like a personal guide to take you from applying for Medicare all the way through to setting up your Medigap and Part D plans, we are your go-to source for help. Our service is free, and afterward, you also get access to our Client Service Team for free for the life of your policy.
Get someone on your side – contact May River Medicare for help with your plan options today!
To continue learning Medicare, go next to: About Medicare’s Coverage
