How Long Do You Have To Register For First Time Medicare Applicants?

Medicare is our country'due south health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare too, including those with disabilities and those who accept permanent kidney failure.

The program helps with the toll of health care, but information technology does not comprehend all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. You have choices for how you get Medicare coverage. If you choose to take Original Medicare (Part A and Role B) coverage, you tin buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy from a private insurance visitor.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is providing equitable relief to individuals who could not submit premium-Part A or Part B enrollment or disenrollment requests timely due to challenges contacting us by phone. This relief applies to the 2022 General Enrollment Period, Initial Enrollment Menstruum, and Special Enrollment Catamenia.

If yous were unable to enroll or disenroll in Medicare because you could not reach us past phone afterward January 1, 2022, you will be granted additional fourth dimension, through December xxx, 2022.

For more information, telephone call i-800-772-1213 or utilise our Part Locator to find the number for a local office.

The Parts of Medicare

Social Security enrolls you in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient care in a infirmary or express time at a skilled nursing facility (following a infirmary stay). Part A likewise pays for some abode wellness care and hospice care.
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, dwelling house health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.

Other parts of Medicare are run by individual insurance companies that follow rules ready by Medicare.

Supplemental (Medigap) policies help pay Medicare out-of-pocket copayments, coinsurance, and deductible expenses.
Medicare Advantage Plan (previously known as Part C) includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B — prescription drugs and boosted benefits such as vision, hearing, and dental — bundled together in one program.
Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) helps embrace the price of prescription drugs.

Most people historic period 65 or older are eligible for free Medical hospital insurance (Office A) if they have worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough. You can enroll in Medicare medical insurance (Part B) by paying a monthly premium. Some beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay a higher monthly Part B premium. To learn more, read Medicare Premiums: Rules For College-Income Beneficiaries.

Should I Sign Up For Medical Insurance (Office B)?

With our online application, you can sign up for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Because y'all must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you tin plough it down.

If yous're eligible at historic period 65, your initial enrollment period begins 3 months earlier your 65th altogether, includes the calendar month you turn age 65, and ends three months subsequently that birthday.

If you choose non to enroll in Medicare Part B and and then make up one's mind to practise so later, your coverage could be delayed and you may take to pay a higher monthly premium for as long as you have Part B. Your monthly premium volition go upwards 10 per centum for each 12-month menses you were eligible for Part B, but didn't sign up for it, unless you authorize for a "Special Enrollment Menstruation" (SEP).

If you don't enroll in Medicare Role B during your initial enrollment menstruum, you have another chance each year to sign up during a "full general enrollment menstruum" from January one through March 31. Your coverage begins on July i of the twelvemonth you enroll. Read our Medicare publication for more information.

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or health insurance based on electric current employment, yous may want to ask your personnel office or insurance company how signing up for Medicare will touch on you.

Special Enrollment Menses (SEP)

If you have medical insurance coverage under a group health plan based on your or your spouse's current employment, you may non demand to apply for Medicare Part B at historic period 65. You may qualify for a "Special Enrollment Period" (SEP) that will let you sign upward for Part B during:

Any month you remain covered nether the group health plan and you lot or your spouse'southward employment continues.
The viii-month period that begins with the calendar month after your grouping health plan coverage or the employment it is based on ends, whichever comes get-go.

How To Apply Online For Merely Medicare

If yous are inside three months of turning age 65 or older and non set up to beginning your monthly Social Security benefits all the same, you can use our online retirement application to sign up just for Medicare and wait to utilize for your retirement or spouses benefits later. Information technology takes less than 10 minutes, and there are no forms to sign and unremarkably no documentation is required.

Use for Medicare Only

Render to Saved Awarding | Check Application Status | Replace Medicare Card

To detect out what documents and information you lot demand to employ, become to the Checklist For The Online Medicare, Retirement, and Spouses Application.

Medicare Cards

To help protect your identity, your Medicare card has a Medicare number that'south unique to y'all. If you did not receive your red, white, and blue Medicare card, there may be something that needs to be corrected, like your mailing accost. You can update your mailing accost by signing in to or creating your personal my Social Security business relationship. Learn more than about your Medicare card.

Already Enrolled in Medicare

If you lot have Medicare, y'all can get information and services online. Observe out how to manage your benefits.

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and you desire to enroll in Part B, please complete form CMS-40B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B (medical insurance). If you are applying for Medicare Function B due to a loss of employment or group health coverage, yous will also demand to complete form CMS-L564, Request for Employment Information.

Yous can utilise one of the following options to submit your enrollment request under the Special Enrollment Catamenia:

Become to "Utilize Online for Medicare Role B During a Special Enrollment Menstruum" and complete CMS-40B and CMS-L564. And then upload your evidence of Group Health Plan or Large Group Health Programme.
Fax or mail your CMS-40B, CMS-L564, and secondary evidence to your local Social Security role (see listing of secondary evidence beneath).

Notation: When completing the forms CMS-40B and CMS-L564

State "I want Part B coverage to begin (MM/YY)" in the remarks section of the CMS-40B class or online awarding.
If possible, your employer should consummate Section B.
If your employer is unable to complete Department B, please complete that portion as best as you can on behalf of your employer without your employer's signature and submit one of the following forms of secondary evidence:

Income revenue enhancement grade that shows health insurance premiums paid.
W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions.
Pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions.
Health insurance cards with a policy effective date.
Explanations of benefits paid by the GHP or LGHP.
Statements or receipts that reverberate payment of health insurance premiums.

You'll take Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) unless you brand another option. You tin decide to add together a drug plan (Part D) or buy a Medigap policy to help pay for costs that Original Medicare doesn't embrace. Y'all can choose to join a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and go all your Medicare coverage (including drugs and extra benefits like vision, hearing, dental, and more) bundled together in one programme.

Some people with express resource and income may besides be able to go Extra Assist to pay for Role D drug costs.

What Happens After I Apply?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) manages Medicare. After you lot are enrolled, they will transport you a Welcome to Medicare packet in the mail with your Medicare bill of fare. You will as well receive the Medicare & Yous handbook, with important information almost your Medicare coverage choices.

Other Medicare Enrollment Options

If yous live in Puerto Rico you volition not receive Medicare Function B (medical insurance) automatically. You will demand to sign upward for it during your initial enrollment period, or you will pay a penalty. To sign upwardly, delight phone call our toll-free number at ane-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You as well may contact your local Social Security function. You can find your local Social Security part by using our Office Locator.

Related Data

Who do I contact - Social Security or Medicare?
Apply Online for Medicare — Even if You Are Not Prepare to Retire
Help Fight Medicare Fraud
Get Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug programme costs
More Medicare information
Agreement Medicare Part C & D Enrollment Periods
Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare
Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans
Mandatory Medicare Coverage

Medicare

Website: world wide web.medicare.gov

Toll-free number:
1-800-MEDICARE
(one-800-633-4227)

TTY number: one-877-486-2048