How To Sign Up For Medicare Gov

Create A Username And Password

Medicare & You: Deciding to Sign Up for Medicare Part B

The final step to create a MyMedicare.gov account is choosing a username and password. Follow the guidelines for choosing a combination of letters, numbers and special characters.

You may use your email address as a username but can’t use a Medicare or Social Security number as a username or password.

Don’t forget your login information, as you need this each time you use your account. You can reset it if you do forget but must answer a secret question to do so. You’re prompted to choose the secret question you want to use, such as your favorite vacation spot or book.

Once you submit the form, a message appears to confirm you’ve successfully created a MyMedicare.gov account. You can now log in and access the features.

The Importance Of Registering In Medicare Parts A & B

Registration in Medicare Parts A & B opens the door for eligibility to get health plans sold by private insurance health carriers.

To get Parts A and B, an initial enrollment period commences three full months before turning 65, includes the birthday month, and ends 3 full months after the birthday month. The same sign-up window applies surrounding the 24th month of receiving Social Security disability benefits.

In fact, having Original Medicare is mandatory in order to get:

Stand-alone Part D prescription drug policies
Part C Medicare Advantage plans

Medigap supplemental plans

If you register in Medicare Part A only, you will just access hospitalization coverage. Any medical charges could be left to you, entirely out of pocket.

Likewise, if enrolled in Part B only, you would only have medical coverage. A hospital stay can quickly become very expensive, so lacking hospitalization coverage poses a large risk.

Sign Up: Within 8 Months After Your Family Member Stopped Working

Your current coverage might not pay for health services if you dont have both Part A and Part B .
If you have Medicare due to a disability or ALS , youll already have Part A coverage.

Avoid the penalty & gap in coverageIf you miss this 8-month Special Enrollment Period, youll have to wait to sign up and go months without coverage. You might also pay a monthly penalty until you turn 65. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. How much is the Part B late enrollment penalty?

Read Also: Does Medicare Pay For Stelara

How To Enroll In A Medicare Part D Plan

Enroll in either Part A or Part B first.

Find insurance providers that sell Part D plans in your area.

Learn more about the plans available in your area by exploring them online or calling the provider directly.

Find the plan that has the health care benefits you want and enroll with the plan providervia phone, online or with an agent.

What Else Can An Online Medicare Account Help Me Do

Setting up an online Medicare account gives you access to a lot of information and resources about your Medicare coverage and claims. In addition to paying premiums and keeping track of your medications, youll be able to:

Find out about your preventive benefits. You can track the preventive services youve used and get a list of Medicare-covered tests and screenings youre eligible for in original Medicare.
Get a copy of your annual Medicare & You handbook. You can go into your online Medicare account | My account settings | Edit my communication preferences and sign up to receive the Medicare & You handbook electronically instead of in the mail.
Print replacement Medicare cards. You can log in to your online Medicare account to print a copy of your official Medicare card.

Keep in mind

This applies to original Medicare. Some services, such as online claims information, are available only for people who have original Medicare. If you have coverage through a private Medicare Advantage plan, you may be able to sign up with your plan to receive your Explanation of Benefits notices and review your claims online.
Part D is separate. You also cannot review your Part D prescription plan claims in your Medicare account because you buy it through a private insurer. You may be able to sign up with your plan to receive your Explanation of Benefits notices and review your claims online.

You May Like: What Is Aarp Medicare Supplement

S To Create A Mymedicaregov Account

While Medicare enrollment is managed by the Social Security Administration, online access to your Medicare account is handled separately. Once you have a Medicare number, you can create a free MyMedicare.gov account through Medicare.

Before you start, have your Medicare card handy. If you haven’t received it yet, you can access your Medicare number through your online Social Security account.

You Automatically Get Medicare

You should already have Part A and Part B , because you have ALS and youre already getting disability benefits.

We mailed you a welcome package with your Medicare card.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.

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 after your Part A starts, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

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.

Also Check: Does Medicare Cover Foreign Travel Emergencies

Determine Whether You Need To Sign Up For Medicare

Some people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A hospital insurance and Medicare Part B medical insurance.

You are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B if:

You receive Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement Board benefits for at least four months before turning 65.

You are under the age of 65 and have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least 24 months.

If you already collect Social Security retirement benefits, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. No further action is required.

Your coverage will begin the first day of the month you turn 65.

Even if you are automatically enrolled, you may also decide to:

Buy a Medigap supplement insurance policy.
Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.

How To Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan

How to Sign Up for Medicare

Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B first.

Find insurance providers who offer Medicare Advantage plans in your area.

Learn more about the plans available in your area by exploring them online or calling the provider directly.

Find the plan that has the health care benefits you want and enroll with the plan providervia phone, online or with an agent.

Ways To Sign Up For Medicare Easy Pay:

Fill out, print and mail a paper form

It can take up to 6-8 weeks for your automatic deductions to start. Until your automatic deductions start, you’ll need to pay your premiums another way. If we can’t set up Medicare Easy Pay for you, we’ll send you a letter explaining why. Find other ways to pay premiums.

It Pays To Enroll On Time

If you miss your initial enrollment window to sign up for Medicare, you can do so later on. But know this: For each 12-month period youre eligible for coverage but dont apply, youll risk a 10% surcharge on your Part B premiums.

If youre still working during your initial enrollment period and have group health coverage, youll get a special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare later on, and you wont have to worry about that penalty. But otherwise, enrolling on time can not only save you money, but ensure that you have coverage when you need it.

Maurie Backman has been writing professionally for well over a decade, and her coverage area runs the gamut from healthcare to personal finance to career advice. Much of her writing these days revolves around retirement and its various components and challenges, including healthcare, Medicare, Social Security, and money management.

Also Check: Does Medicare Pay For Power Chairs

When Youre Ready Contact Social Security To Sign Up:

Apply online This is the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. Youll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for Social Security benefits online.
Contact your local Social Security office.

If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

If You Already Receive Benefits From Social Security:

If you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. You will not need to do anything to enroll. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If your 65th birthday is February 20, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be February 1, 2010.

Also Check: When Can I Start Medicare Part B

What Does Medicare Cover

With Original Medicare, you can go to any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare. Below, we’ll look at what Original Medicare covers.3

Medicare Part A helps pay for:

Inpatient hospital care

Medicare Part B helps pay for:

Preventative services, including annual wellness visits, screenings, and vaccines

Outpatient care, including physical, speech, and occupational therapy
Durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds
Services from doctors and other health care providers

When Is The Medicare Part D Annual Election Period:

If you did not enroll in prescription drug coverage during IEP, you can sign up for prescription drug coverage during the Annual Election Period that runs every year from October 15 to December 7.

During AEP, you can:

Drop a Medicare prescription drug plan.
Join a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesnt include prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan that does .

Outside of the Part D Initial Enrollment Period and the Annual Election Period, usually the only time you can make changes to prescription drug coverage without a qualifying Special Election Period is during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period but only if you are dropping Medicare Advantage coverage and switching back to Original Medicare. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31.

Medicare Part A and Part B do not include prescription drug coverage, and if you switch back to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you will have until March 31 to join a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan.

Donât Miss: Free Government Money For Students

You May Like: How To Choose A Medicare Supplement Plan

How To Sign Up For Medicare Using Medicaregov

Medicare.gov has a brief survey to give you direction on how to sign up for Medicare.

For example, if you select that you are not receiving any benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board and are 65 or older, your instructions would be to contact Social Security to sign up. If you apply to get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board, you will get Medicare Part A automatically. You will choose if you want Medicare Part B when you apply for benefits.

Ways to sign up:

Visit the Social Security website, SSA.gov signing up for Medicare is quick and easy on the website you can set up a secure Social Security account to be able to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits
Contact your local Social Security office

If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 772-5772

LeRon Moore has guided Medicare beneficiaries and their families as a Medicare professional since 2007. First as a Medicare provider enrollment specialist and now a Medicare account executive, Moore works directly with Medicare beneficiaries to ensure they understand Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans.

Moore holds a bachelors degree from Southern New Hampshire University and is A+ Certified with a Medical Records Clerk Certification and Medical Terminology Certification from Midlands Technical College.

How Does The Medicare Deductible And Coinsurance Work

How & When To Sign Up for Medicare 2022

Medicare Part A and Part B come with several cost-sharing expenses. It’s important for Original Medicare enrollees to know there is no yearly limit for out-of-pocket expenses.5 Unless you have additional coverage, such as a Medigap plan, you may face extensive health care costs, depending on your needs. The chart below looks at the major out-of-pocket expenses with Original Medicare.

Plan
Part B enrollees pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for all Part B services.

Go To The Mymedicaregov Account Creation Page

Bring up the MyMedicare.gov account creation page in your web browser. You can do this in two ways.

Enter Medicare.gov in the address bar.

Look for the Log In button on the top right corner of the site
From the login screen, click Create an Account Now

Go directly to www.MyMedicare.gov.

From the login screen, click Create an Account Now

Once you reach the account creation page, a security message appears explaining information collected by the site. You must agree to the message to create a MyMedicare.gov account.

Sign Up: Within 8 Months After Your Family Member Stops Working

If you have Medicare due to a disability or ALS , youll already have Part A .
Youll pay a monthly premium for Part B , so you may want to wait to sign up for Part B.

How Do You Use The Medicaregov Website

Are you exploring your Medicare options? If so, Medicare.gov is where you want to start. Medicare.gov is the official website for, it provides a helpful comprehensive wide range of Medicare information. The site is very helpful for comparing plans, finding providers, and learning about costs and policies. Even though Medicare.gov is the official site for Medicare, it doesnt allow for direct enrollment through the site. However, a link to the Social Security Administration is available on Medicare.gov by clicking the Apply for Medicare button. Enrollment into Original Medicare occurs on the Social Security website.

Medicare.gov has two components. You can create an online profile or use the site as is without creating a profile. Without creating a profile, there are still several resources that would be beneficial to you. Exploring some of the resources on the site arms you with a great deal of useful information. If you are a beginner and learning about Medicare, the site accommodates you.

Medicaregov: The Official Us Government Site For Medicare

Medicare.gov on Twitter: " With your #mySocialSecurity account, you can ...

Medicare.gov has extensive resources for Medicare recipients. See how to use your online account.

Medicare.gov allows you to research, sign up, and utilize Medicare services.

You can find a variety of helpful tools on Medicare.gov.
Use Medicare.gov to sign up for coverage.
Find ongoing education and resources on Medicare.gov.

You May Like: How To Pick A Medicare Plan

Sign Up: Within 8 Months After The Active Duty Service Member Retires

Most people dont have to pay a premium for Part A . So, you might want to sign up for Part A when you turn 65, even if the active duty service member is still working.
Youll pay a monthly premium for Part B , so you might want to wait to sign up for Part B.

Avoid the penalty & gap in coverageIf you miss this 8-month Special Enrollment Period, youll have to wait to sign up and go months without coverage. You might also pay a monthly penalty for as long as you have Part B. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. How much is the Part B late enrollment penalty?

Important Enrollment Dates To Remember

Avoid unnecessary fees by signing up for Medicare during the proper enrollment periods.

During your initial enrollment period: Your initial Medicare enrollment period lasts for seven months, starting three months before you turn 65 and ending three months after the month you turn 65.7

During the Medicare annual enrollment period: At any time during annual enrollment, you can join, drop, or switch to another plan. This includes Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D drug plans. Open enrollment for Medicare is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.
During the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period: This is only for individuals who already have a Medicare Advantage plan. During this time, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. Open enrollment is from Jan. 1 to March 31.
During the Medigap open enrollment period: Medigap’s six-month open enrollment starts the first day of the month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During Medicare’s special enrollment period: Certain circumstances allow you to enroll in Medicare without paying a costly penalty. For example, there is an eight-month period for Medicare special enrollment if your group health plan coverage ends.8

Medicare annual enrollment dates

Medicare plan pricing, coverage, and provider networks can change on an annual basis. This is why it’s so important to review your Medicare selections every year. Never set it and forget it!

You May Like: What Is Medicare Part G