How to Apply for Medicare

If you're over the age of 65 or are under 65 and on Medicare due to a qualifying disability, you may be eligible for Medicare. Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides medical coverage for hospitalization, doctor visits, and other medical expenses. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of applying for Medicare.

First, you'll need to determine if you're eligible for Medicare. In general, you're eligible for Medicare if you're over 65 years old and have been a US citizen or permanent resident for at least five years. If you're under 65, you may be eligible if you have a qualifying disability, such as end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. You must be considered disabled for 24 months before being eligible for Medicare under the age of 65.

Medicare, Social Security and Railroad Retirement

Many people don’t realize you sign up for Original Medicare Parts A and B at the Social Security Administration.  If you’ve already accepted Social Security and are receieveing payments, the Social Security Administration will send you your Medicare card automatically.

If you’ve deferred your Social Security benefits past the age of 65, you’ll have to proactively sign up for Medicare yourself on their website.  You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65.

When you apply for retirement or disability benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board), it also serves as your application for Medicare. Once you get approved for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you’ll automatically get Part A coverage (without having to pay a premium for it) once you’re eligible for Medicare.

If you’re getting benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) at least 4 months before you turn 65, you’ll automatically get Part A coverage. You’ll also be signed up for Part B (unless you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.). Because you pay a monthly premium for Part B coverage, you can choose whether to keep it or not.

Social Security and Medicare Sign Up

You sign up through Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) because they need to see if you're eligible for Medicare, including whether you (or another qualifying person) paid Medicare taxes long enough to get Part A without having to pay a monthly premium. They also process requests to sign up for Medicare Part B.

Once you've determined that you're eligible for Medicare and you won’t be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically, you can start the application process. There are two ways to apply: online or by mail.

To apply online, visit the Social Security website and create an account, if you’ve not already done so. Once you've created an account, you can log in and fill out the online application. Be sure to have your Social Security number and other personal information handy, as you'll need to provide this and additional information on the application.

You can also visit your local Social Security office to sign up, but you’ll very likely want to make an appointment as lines and wait times are long for walk-up traffic. 

Once you've submitted your application, you'll need to wait for a decision. The Social Security Administrationwill review your application and determine if you're eligible for coverage. If you are, they'll send you a welcome packet with information on your coverage and how to use your benefits. If you're not eligible, they'll send you a letter explaining why and what you can do to appeal the decision.

In conclusion, applying for Medicare is a straightforward process. Simply determine if you're eligible, complete the application, and wait for a decision. If you have any questions or need help with the application process, you can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

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