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Section 5: ready to enroll 
 

How to Sign Up During Your Initial Enrollment Period

You’ll need to decide whether to enroll in Part A alone or Parts A and B 

 

ESTIMATED READ TIME: 4 MINUTES

  

IN THIS ARTICLE

 

• Step by step through the online process

• How to pay your Part B premiums

If you aren’t receiving Social Security benefits yet, you’ll need to sign up for Medicare. For those born in 1943 or later, the Social Security full retirement age is 66 or older, so many people haven’t signed up for benefits by 65. This means they need to take steps to enroll in Medicare.

 

You can sign up for Medicare only at certain times. You can enroll in Medicare during your seven-month initial enrollment period, which starts on the first day of the month three months before the month you turn 65 and lasts for the entire three months afterward. Most people enroll in Parts A and B, but you can sign up for just Part A.

 

You can delay enrolling in Part B if you or your spouse is still working and either of you has health insurance from an employer with 20 or more employees. Remember, only this job-based coverage from a current employer — not retiree health insurance or COBRA, which allows most people to stay on their company’s insurance plan for up to 18 months after they leave their job — allows you to defer signing up for Part B.
 

While SSA encourages online enrollment (instructions below) to prevent long lines at local Social Security offices some people prefer to apply in person. Contact your local office to schedule an appointment or call Social Security at 800-772-1213.

 

STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE ONLINE PROCESS

 

1. To sign up, visit the Social Security Administration website. Click the sign up for Medicare button, then click the Apply online button in the Sign up for Medicare box.
 

screenshot of medicare website showing how to sign up for medicare


2.
You’ll need to accept the terms of service. After doing so, click Next. On the Apply for Benefits page, choose Start a New Application. Note that you'll be asked to sign in to your online Social Security account or create one.
 

screenshot of the social security administrations medicare online application apply for benefits page. A buttons reading start a new application is circled in red


3. On the next screen,
indicate if you have an online Social Security account.
 

screenshot of the social security administrations medicare online application page where you choose if you are apply for yourself or helping someone else. The field to choose if you already have a my social security account is circled in red


4.
If you have an online Social Security account, you’ll need to log in.
 

screenshot of the login screen for my social security


5.
After you’ve logged in to your account, you’ll need to provide personal information.
 

screenshot of the social security administrations medicare application website information page where the user puts in their name, social security number and date of birth


6. On the next screen, click Yes where it asks about applying for Medicare only. 
 

screenshot of the social security administrations medicare application website page asking if you wish to apply for medicare only but not for monthly retirement cash benefits. The answer yes is circled in red


7.
If you want to sign up for Part B benefits in addition to Part A, click Yes.
 

screenshot of the social security administrations medicare application website page asking want to enroll in Medicare Part B


8.
Now provide information about your group health plan, employment and health insurance.
 

9. Once you’ve completed these steps, sign your application. Check the box and click Submit Now. Keep the receipt for your records. You’ll also get a number to use to check the status of your application.
 

screenshot of the social security administrations medicare application website electronic signature agreement showing the agreement terms and conditions and where to check if you agree with the electronic signature agreement


About two weeks after you sign up, you’ll get your Medicare card in the mail, along with your Welcome to Medicare package.
 

a sample of what a medicare health insurance card looks like


Starting on the date listed on the front of the card, you should bring the card to all your doctors appointments and whenever you go to the hospital.


Updated January 27, 2022
 

If You Receive Social Security Benefits Now
How to Sign Up During a Special Enrollment Period