How do i sign up for medicare without social security

Q: Can I get Medicare without collecting Social Security?

Even if you dont qualify for Social Security, you can sign up for Medicare at 65 as long you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Q: Do I need a Social Security account to sign up for Medicare?

Youll 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.

You don’t need to create a Medicare account to sign up. After you sign up and get your Medicare Number, you can create your secure Medicare account. You can also join a plan or buy supplemental insurance to get more coverage.

Table of Contents Show

I want to sign up for only Part A or both Part A & Part B
When you’re ready, contact Social Security to sign up:
I have Part A & want to add Part B
Other situations
What do you want to do next?
Do you get benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) now?
Do you get benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) because of a disability or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig's disease)?
Do you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease)?
Did you start getting benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) at least 4 months before you turned 65?
Select which best describes you:
Do you plan to start getting benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) at least 4 months before you turn 65?
Select your situation:
Your answer
You automatically get Medicare
What can I do next?
How to enroll in Medicare if you are turning 65 without Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits
Can I get Medicare without collecting Social Security?
Do I need a Social Security account to sign up for Medicare?
What are the 3 requirements for Medicare?
What information do I need to create a Medicare account?

Once you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare (usually 3 months before you turn 65), you have 2 options:

Sign up to get only Medicare coverage.
Apply to start getting benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board). Once you’re approved to start getting benefits, you’ll automatically get Part A coverage. You’ll choose if you want Part B coverage when you apply for benefits.

Once you sign up (or are approved for benefits), you’ll get a welcome package with your Medicare card.

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.
Contact your local Social Security office.
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

If you don’t qualify for Part A without having to pay a monthly premium, you might be able to buy Part A. To buy Part A, you must also sign up for Part B.

I have Part A & want to add Part B

Contact Social Security to sign up for Part B:

Call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
Contact your local Social Security office.
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

If you live outside the U.S.: You may want to get Part B if you plan to return to the U.S. to get health care services. Get help signing up for Part B if you live in a foreign country.

Other situations

Contact Social Security if you want to sign up for:

Learn how to drop Part A or Part B.

What do you want to do next?

Do you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease)?

Select which best describes you:

Select your situation:

Your answer

You automatically get Medicare

You should already have Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) , because you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and you’re already getting disability benefits.
We mailed you a welcome package with your Medicare card.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.
You get Part A automatically. If you want Part B, you need to sign up for it. If you don’t sign up for Part B within 3 months after your Part A starts, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

What can I do next?

See Coverage Options

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If you are eligible for Medicare but not currently receiving Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, there are three different time periods during which you can enroll in Medicare Parts A and B.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). You can enroll in Medicare at anytime during this seven-month period, which includes the three months before, the month of, and the three months following your 65th birthday. The date when your Medicare coverage begins depends on when you sign up.
- If you enroll during the first three months of your IEP, coverage begins the month in which you first become eligible for Medicare.
- If you enroll during the fourth month of your IEP, coverage begins the month following the month of enrollment.
- If you enroll during the fifth month of your IEP, coverage begins the second month following the month of enrollment.
- If you enroll during the sixth or seventh month of your IEP, coverage begins the third month following the month of enrollment.

For example, let’s say you turn 65 in June. Use the following chart to determine when you can enroll in Medicare and when your coverage would start.

Back
You can enroll anytime in:	Your coverage starts:

March	June 1st

April	June 1st

May	June 1st

June	July 1st

July	September 1st

August	November 1st

September	December 1st

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It is important to note that if your birthday falls on the first of the month, your IEP is the seven months surrounding the month prior to the month of your birth. For example, let’s say you turn 65 on June 1. Your IEP runs from February 1 to August 31.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP). SEPs are periods of time outside of normal enrollment periods, triggered by specific circumstances. The Part B SEP lets you delay enrollment in Part B without penalty if you were covered by insurance based on your or your spouse’s current work (job-based insurance) when you first become eligible for Medicare. You can enroll in Medicare without penalty for up to eight months after you lose your group health coverage or you (or your spouse) stop working, whichever comes first. Medicare coverage begins the first month after you enroll. For example, if you retire and sign up for Medicare in February, your coverage will begin March 1. To avoid a gap in coverage, enroll in Medicare the month before your job-based insurance will end.
General Enrollment Period (GEP). If you did not enroll in Medicare when you originally became eligible for it (either during your IEP or an SEP), you can sign up during the GEP. The GEP takes place January 1 through March 31 each year, with coverage starting July 1. You may incur a Part B late enrollment penalty and face gaps in coverage if you sign up during the GEP.

Even if you don't qualify for Social Security, you can sign up for Medicare at 65 as long you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

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.

What are the 3 requirements for Medicare?

Be age 65 or older; Be a U.S. resident; AND. Be either a U.S. citizen, OR. Be an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and has been residing in the United States for 5 continuous years prior to the month of filing an application for Medicare.