5 Steps to Help You Enroll in Medicare

3. Sign up for parts A and B of Medicare

Whether you’ve decided to get coverage through original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, you first need to sign up for parts A and B as the foundation for either option. How you enroll and the timing depend on your personal situation.

Remember, unless you or your spouse work for a company with 20 or more employees that provides you with health insurance, you typically should sign up for Medicare at age 65 to avoid coverage gaps. Determine which scenario applies to you below and click the link for a step-by-step guide to enroll.

• I’m already receiving Social Security retirement benefits. If so, you’ll be enrolled automatically in parts A and B of Medicare. If you live in Puerto Rico, be aware that the rules for this U.S. territory are different.
• I’m signing up during my initial enrollment period. This time frame includes the three months before you turn 65 through the three months after you turn 65. If you aren’t receiving Social Security benefits at 65, you’ll need to take steps to enroll in Medicare.
• I’m signing up during a special enrollment period. You can enroll in Medicare outside the initial enrollment period by meeting certain conditions, such as if you or your spouse is still working and you have coverage from that employer. You can enroll in Part B up to eight months after you or your spouse stops working and you lose that health insurance. If you miss that eight-month window, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty or have a gap in coverage.
• I’m signing up during a general enrollment period. If you don’t enroll in Medicare during your initial enrollment period and you don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, you can sign up during the general enrollment period, which runs Jan. 1 to March 31 annually. You may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

4. Decide if you need financial help

Medicare isn’t free to those who participate. You’re expected to share costs by paying Part B and Part D premiums — and sometimes Part A and Medicare Advantage premiums — as well as any deductibles, copayments or coinsurance for services you use.

• Original Medicare doesn’t have a limit on its out-of-pocket costs.
• Medicare Advantage plans have out-of-pocket limits. But you still have to pay premiums for Part B, sometimes Part A and even for the plans themselves, in addition to deductibles, copays and potentially coinsurance.
• Part D prescription drug plans have their own monthly premiums and often have deductibles and copays.
• And to be covered for dental, hearing and vision if you choose original Medicare, you’ll have to buy separate insurance plans with their own cost sharing or pay as needed from your savings. Keep in mind, Medicare Advantage plans often provide dental, hearing and vision coverage.

If your income is low and you don’t have much savings or assets, you may qualify for financial assistance. Several federal and state programs could help reduce the cost of parts A and B and make Part D more affordable.

5. Choose your additional coverage

After you’ve signed up for parts A and B of Medicare, it’s time to enroll in the additional coverage you need.

• Do you want a Medicare Advantage plan? We’ll walk you through a sample search using Medicare’s Plan Finder tool.
• Do you need Part D prescription drug coverage? We’ll show you how to use Medicare’s Plan Finder tool to search for a plan.
• Do you want a Medigap policy? You can view a sample search using Medicare’s Medigap Plan Finder tool.

Rest assured, help is available to navigate Medicare. We’ve tried to demystify some of Medicare’s complex systems, but talking with a person who can help you through the process is nice. Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), or if you’re comfortable using live chat on your computer, you can click on the Chat Now button on Medicare’s Talk to Someone web page. You can also get help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).