How To Apply For Part A Medicare Only

You Automatically Get Medicare When You Turn 65

• Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card 3 months before your Medicare coverage starts.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.You get Part A automatically. If you want Part B, you need to sign up for it. If you dont sign up for Part B within 3 months of turning 65, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

Who Can Enroll In A Medicare Part D

In general, individuals who have Original Medicare, Part A and/or Part B, or a Medicare Advantage plan are eligible to enroll into a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

In order to be eligible for Medicare Part D enrollment, you must:

• Have Medicare Part A and/or Part B.
• Live in the service area of a plan that provides prescription drug coverage.

Medicare prescription drug coverage is voluntary, and you will need to enroll. You can receive this coverage through private insurance companies in two ways:

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plan : These stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans can be added on to your Original Medicare coverage, as well as certain Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Medical Savings Account plans, and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service plans.
• Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan: Some Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, in addition to providing Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.

Keep in mind that you cannot be enrolled in both types of plans. If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage and enroll into a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, you will be automatically disenrolled from the Medicare Advantage plan and reverted back to Original Medicare.

Do I Need An Application Form For Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

Since Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, includes only limited prescription drug coverage, many beneficiaries sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage. You can get this coverage through certain Medicare Advantage plans , or you can sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to work alongside your Original Medicare coverage.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans are available from private, Medicare-approved insurance companies. To qualify, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B and live in the plans service area. Plan availability, costs, and benefit details may vary. Read about enrollment periods for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.

As with Medicare Advantage plans, there are a few different ways you can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. You can contact the insurance company that offers the plan enroll through one of Medicare.coms licensed insurance agents or enroll through Medicare .

To compare plans, as noted above, just click Compare Plans or Find Plans on this page.

What if I have questions about Medicare forms?

If you have questions about Medicare enrollment or eligibility, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM . You can also visit the Social Security office nearest you.

New To Medicare?

Becoming eligible for Medicare can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand Medicare in 15 minutes or less.

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Do You Need To Apply For Medicare

Most people do need to apply for Medicare. But if you reach age 65 and youre already receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, youll be signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B automatically.

And if you arent receiving retirement benefits and you dont have health coverage through an employer, you will need to apply for Medicare as you approach age 65. If you need to apply, Medicare gives you several options.

When To Apply For Medicare

If youre wondering when you should enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B, the timing of your Initial Enrollment Period will depend on how you qualify for Medicare:

• Turning 65:If youre eligible for Medicare because of age and are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits before you turn 65, youll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B on the first day of the month that you turn 65. If youre not yet receiving retirement benefits, you can manually enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, the seven-month period that starts three months before you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends three months later.
• Disability: If you qualify because of disability, youll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B in the 25th month of receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration or Railroad Retirement Board.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis : If you qualify for Medicare because you have Lou Gehrigs disease, youre automatically enrolled the same month that your disability benefits begin.
• End-stage renal disease : For individuals who qualify for Medicare because of end-stage renal disease, enrollment works differently and may depend on your specific situation. Contact Medicare for more information at 1-800-633-4227, 24 hours a day, seven days a week .

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Do I Need An Application Form For Signing Up For Medicare Advantage

If youd like, you may be able enroll in Medicare Advantage as an alternative way to get your Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private health insurance companies that contract with Medicare to deliver your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits with the exception of hospice care, which is still covered under Part A. Many Medicare Advantage plans include benefits beyond Part A and Part B coverage as well for example, some plans offer prescription drug coverage, routine vision care, and/or wellness programs.

There are several types of Medicare Advantage plans, although not every type of plan may be available where you live. Examples of plan types include Health Maintenance Organization plans, Preferred Provider Organization plans, Private Fee-for-Service plans, Special Needs Plans , and Medical Savings Account plans.

To qualify for a Medicare Advantage plan, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B live within the plans service area and, in many cases, not have end-stage renal disease . You can generally sign up for Medicare Advantage only during certain election periods.

You can compare Medicare Advantage plans available where you live just click Find Plans or Compare Plans on this page. Note that you need to continue paying your Medicare Part B premium, along with any premium the plan may charge.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

If you have prescription drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, you can choose to leave this plan and go back to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period .

If you disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan at this time, you will have from January 1 until March 31 to enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, since Original Medicare doesnt include prescription coverage.

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Do You Have To Sign Up For Medicare When Youre 65

As long as you have creditable coverage, you dont have to enroll in Medicare when you are 65. Technically, you dont have to sign up for Medicare at all if you dont want to. Medicare is not mandatory, but it is important to be aware that if you choose to sign up later without creditable coverage, youll incur penalties that you may be stuck with for the rest of your life.

The most common reason a new beneficiary may delay enrolling in Medicare is that they have coverage through their employer. However, not all group coverage is creditable coverage. The size of your employer will determine if the coverage is creditable.

When Can You Enroll In Medicare

You can apply for Medicare during three distinct enrollment periods: your Initial Enrollment Period, the General Enrollment Period and a Special Enrollment Period when youre getting off your employers health coverage.

Medicare Enrollment Dates

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Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level Program

If you are aged or disabled and are not eligible for the SSI program, you may be able to get Medi-Cal through the Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level program. To qualify, you must:

This Medi-Cal program uses SSI countable income rules as well as a few extra rules you should know. For more information, visit the Medi-Cal section of the Disability Benefits 101 website.

What If I Need To Be In A Nursing Home

Medicare covers most of the costs associated with skilled nursing after an inpatient stays in the hospital. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, a stay at a skilled nursing facility will cost very little.

After inpatient treatment, many patients need more outpatient care in the home setting. To learn how to get financial assistance for home health care, read How to Qualify for Home Health Care & Get Financial Assistance.

If you require assisted living because you are no longer able to live independently, read Does Medicare Cover Assisted Living Costs? What About Independent Living?

If you need long-term care and have limited resources, Medicaid can help, however, strict asset limits do apply. We have a complete guide to long-term care if you need it.

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Monthly Medicare Premiums For 2021

The standard Part B premium for 2021 is $148.50. If youre single and filed an individual tax return, or married and filed a joint tax return, the following chart applies to you:

Explore Your Other Medicare Coverage Options

Once you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you can explore additional coverage options.

You can decide to:

• Add a Medigap supplement insurance policy.
• Add a Part D prescription drug plan.
• Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan also known as Part C to replace your Original Medicare coverage.

Medicare Part D, Medigap and Medicare Advantage are all administered by private insurance companies that contract with CMS.

You can apply for these benefits online.

Use the Medicare Plan Finder tool to explore and compare plans in your area.

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How To Enroll In Medicare

Enrolling in Medicare is easy once you understand how to do so. It’s important to know that how you enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B is different from how you enroll in Medicare Advantage , Part D or Medicare supplement insurance.

See the table below for a quick overview of how to enroll in a Medicare or Medigap plan and read on for how-to steps for both Original Medicare and the three kinds of Medicare and Medigap plans.

Original Medicare Medicare Advantage plan Medicare Prescription Drug plan Medicare Supplement Insurance plan How to Enroll

Enroll in Original Medicare online at the Social Security website or by calling or visiting your local Social Security office.

Enroll directly in the plan e.g., on the plans website or Medicare.gov .

Enroll directly in the plan e.g., on the plans website or Medicare.gov .

Enroll directly in the plan e.g., on the plans website

Original Medicare

How to Enroll

Enroll in Original Medicare online at the Social Security website or by calling or visiting your local Social Security office.

Medicare Advantage plan

How to Enroll

Enroll directly in the plan e.g., on the plans website or Medicare.gov .

Medicare Prescription Drug plan

How to Enroll

Enroll directly in the plan e.g., on the plans website or Medicare.gov .

Medicare Supplement Insurance plan

Enroll directly in the plan e.g., on the plans website

I Want To Sign Up For Only Part A Or Both Part A & Part B

Once youre eligible to sign up for Medicare , you have 2 options:

Once you sign up , youll get a welcome package with your Medicare card.

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When Is The Medicare Advantage Plan Annual Election Period:

You can also add, drop, or change your Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period, which occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year. During this period, you may:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, and vice versa.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different one.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescription drugs, and vice versa.

How To Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan

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When Can I Enroll In Medicare If I Am Not Receiving Retirement Benefits:

If you are not yet receiving retirement benefits and are close to turning 65, you can sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B during your IEP. If you decide to delay your Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement Benefits beyond age 65, there is an option to enroll in just Medicare and apply for retirement benefits at a later time.

How To Enroll In Medicare Part D

Once you decide if you want to enroll into a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, you can apply directly through the insurance company.

Generally, you should be able to enroll by submitting a paper application, calling the plan, or enrolling online. You may also enroll through a licensed insurance agent such as eHealth. Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans arent allowed to call and ask you to enroll into their plan.

When you enroll in prescription drug coverage, you will have to provide your Medicare number and the date your Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B coverage started. You can find this information on your Medicare card.

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Can I Apply For Medicare Online

If you are approaching Medicare eligibility, you may have questions about how to sign up to receive your benefits. Fortunately, you have more convenient options than making an appointment with a representative and driving to your local Social Security Administration office. Learn how to enroll in Medicare the easy wayonline. Applying online allows you to start and stop the application with your information saved, make corrections prior to submission, receive an online receipt for your records, and check your application status online.

Find affordable Medicare plans in your area

If You Are Under Age 65 And Disabled:

If you are under age 65 and disabled, and have been entitled to disability benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months, you will be automatically entitled to Medicare Part A and Part B beginning the 25th month of disability benefit entitlement. You will not need to do anything to enroll in Medicare. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your Medicare entitlement date. , you get your Medicare benefits the first month you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.) For more information about enrollment, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit the Social Security web site. See also Social Security’s Medicare FAQs.

For more information, see Medicare.gov

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How To Apply For Medicare

Medicare enrollment is easier than ever. Once you meet eligibility requirements, you are ready to choose from a variety of plans in which to enroll. As we mentioned earlier, some beneficiaries can receive automatic enrollment, and some have to apply manually.

There are three ways to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B:

If you have previously been a railroad employee, you can enroll in Medicare by contacting the Railroad Retirement Board, Monday Friday, from 9:00 AM 3:30 PM at 1-877-772-5772.

Medicare applications generally take between 30-60 days to obtain approval.

Medicare Special Enrollment Period

You may choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B when you are first eligible because you are already covered by group medical insurance through an employer or union. If you lose your group insurance, or if you decide you want to switch from your group coverage to Medicare, you can sign up at any time that you are still covered by the group plan or during a Special Enrollment Period.

Your eight-month special enrollment period begins either the month that your employment ends or when your group health coverage ends, whichever occurs first. If you enroll during an SEP, you generally do not have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

The Special Enrollment Period does not apply if youre eligible for Medicare because you have ESRD. Please also keep in mind that COBRA and retiree health coverage are not considered current employer coverage and would not qualify you for a special enrollment period.

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