Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Your Medicare enrollment steps will differ depending on whether or not you are collecting retirement benefits when you enter your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
- If you are receiving Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, you should be automatically enrolled in both Medicare Part A Part A, also known as hospital insurance, is the part of Medicare that covers most medically necessary hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, home health care, and hospice care. and Part B Part B, also known as medical insurance, is the part of Medicare that covers most medically necessary doctors’ services, preventive care, hospital outpatient care, durable medical equipment (DME), laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health services, and some home health care and ambulance services. .
- If you are not receiving Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, you will need to actively enroll in Medicare.
If you are eligible for automatic enrollment, you should not have to contact anyone. You should receive a package in the mail three months before your coverage starts with your new Medicare card Everyone who enrolls in Medicare receives a red, white, and blue Medicare card. It lists your name and the dates that your Original Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B) began. It also shows your Medicare number, which serves as an identification number in the Medicare system. If you get Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board, your card will say “Railroad Retirement Board” at the bottom. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will also have a card from that plan (see Medicare Advantage Plan Card). . There will also be a letter explaining how Medicare works and that you were automatically enrolled in both Parts A and B. If you get Social Security retirement benefits, your package and card will come from the . If you get Railroad Retirement benefits, your package and card will come from the Railroad Retirement Board The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is an independent agency in the executive branch of the federal government that administers comprehensive retirement, survivor, unemployment, and sickness benefits for U.S. railroad workers and their families. If you receive Railroad Retirement benefits or railroad disability annuity checks, the RRB processes your Medicare enrollment and collects your Medicare premiums. .
Typically, you should not turn down Part B unless you have insurance based on your or your spouse’s current work (job-based insurance). If you do not have job-based insurance and you turn down Part B, you may incur a premium penalty if you need to sign up for Medicare coverage in the future. Also, if your job-based insurance will pay secondary after you become eligible for Medicare, you should consider enrolling in Medicare in order to have primary coverage and pay less for your care.
If you are 65 but are not receiving Social Security retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, you will need to actively enroll in Medicare.
Signing up for Medicare
Follow the steps below if you need to actively enroll in Medicare.
If you decide to enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Parts A and/or B by:
- Visiting your local Social Security office
- Calling Social Security at 800-772-1213
- Mailing a signed and dated letter to Social Security that includes your name, Social Security number, and the date you would like to be enrolled in Medicare
- Or, by applying online at www.ssa.gov
If you are eligible for Railroad Retirement benefits, enroll in Medicare by calling the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or contacting your local RRB field office.
Keep proof of when you tried to enroll in Medicare, to protect yourself from incurring a Part B if your application is lost.
- Take down the names of any representatives you speak to, along with the time and date of the conversation.
- If you enroll through the mail, use certified mail and request a return receipt.
- If you enroll at your local Social Security office, ask for a written receipt.
- If you apply online, print out and save your confirmation page.