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.
I want to sign up for only Part A or both Part A & Part B
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.
When you’re ready, contact Social Security to sign up:
- 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 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?
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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:
Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S. See Coverage OptionsYour answer
You
automatically get Medicare
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?
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You must be logged in to bookmark pages. 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. 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. 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.How to enroll in Medicare if you are turning 65 without Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits
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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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