How to Enroll in Medicare
Most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when they turn 65 if they are already receiving Social Security. If you are not receiving Social Security, you need to actively enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period — a 7-month window around your 65th birthday. Missing this window without other qualifying coverage results in a permanent late enrollment penalty.
Written by the Uplift editorial team · Verified against official program sources
Documents You Will Need
Gather these before you start — having everything ready speeds up your application and reduces the chance of delays.
- ☐Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
- ☐Birth certificate or other proof of age
- ☐Proof of US citizenship or lawful immigration status
- ☐If still working: letter from your employer confirming active employer health coverage (needed to delay Part B without penalty)
- ☐If claiming through a spouse's work record: marriage certificate and spouse's SSN
Step-by-Step Application Process
Understand your enrollment window
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is 7 months: 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and 3 months after. Enrolling in the first 3 months gets coverage starting the month you turn 65. Enrolling in month 4 or later delays coverage by 1–3 months. If you are still covered by employer insurance through your own job (not a spouse's), you can delay Part B without penalty and enroll during a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends.
Enroll through Social Security
Apply online at ssa.gov/medicare, by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local SSA office. If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefits at 65, you will be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically and receive your Medicare card in the mail about 3 months before your birthday.
Decide whether to keep original Medicare or choose Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) lets you see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare nationwide. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is coverage through a private insurer that bundles Parts A, B, and usually D into one plan — often with lower premiums but network restrictions. You must actively choose a Medicare Advantage plan; you are not enrolled in one automatically.
Enroll in Part D for prescription coverage
Part D is prescription drug coverage offered through private insurance plans. If you have original Medicare and want drug coverage, you must separately enroll in a stand-alone Part D plan. You can compare plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare. Delaying Part D enrollment without other creditable drug coverage results in a late enrollment penalty added permanently to your monthly premium.
Check for Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs
If your income is below about 150% FPL, you may qualify for Extra Help — a program that reduces Part D drug costs to near zero. If your income is below 135% FPL, Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium ($174.70/month in 2024) and possibly other cost-sharing. Apply for Extra Help through SSA and for Medicare Savings Programs through your state Medicaid agency.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- →The late enrollment penalty for Part B is 10% per full 12-month period you were not enrolled and not covered by employer insurance — and it is permanent. Do not miss your window unless you have qualifying employer coverage.
- →Medicare does not cover most dental, vision, or hearing aids in original Medicare. Consider a supplemental plan (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage plan that includes these benefits.
- →Review your Part D plan every year during Open Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7). Drug formularies change, and switching plans can save hundreds of dollars annually.
- →If you are within 3 months of turning 65, apply for Medicare now even if you are still working — you can enroll in Part A (which is usually free) while delaying Part B.
After You Apply
After enrolling, your red, white, and blue Medicare card arrives by mail. Keep it safe — it now shows a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) number rather than your Social Security number. Review your "Medicare & You" handbook when it arrives each fall. If you have questions about coverage or find a provider who claims Medicare does not cover something you believe it should, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Ready to apply for Medicare?
Opens the official application on the program's website.
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