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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.
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.
3. On the next screen, indicate if you have an online Social Security account.
4. If you have an online Social Security account, you’ll need to log in.
5. After you’ve logged in to your account, you’ll need to provide personal information.
6. On the next screen, click Yes where it asks about applying for Medicare only.
7. If you want to sign up for Part B benefits in addition to Part A, click Yes.
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.
About two weeks after you sign up, you’ll get your Medicare card in the mail, along with your Welcome to Medicare package.
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