Turning 65 Years Young?

If you are already drawing Social Security Income, Part A and Part B will start automatically for you. Very easy!

You can verify this by calling Social Security or logging into your my Social Security account online with this link to verify benefits.

Not drawing Social Security right now?

You can sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.

It is important to know that if you wait beyond this point, you will have to wait for coverage to begin and, after 3 months (if no other qualifying coverage) there could be life-long penalties.

Then you have 3 options:

1)  You can easily apply online for Medicare to start, using this link: 

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/

2) You can call to Apply:

1-800-772-1213  or;

3) You can Apply in Person

(if your Social Security office is open.) Here is a directory of the Social Security offices:

https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

All done? Now see below!

If you are older than 65 and are leaving, or recently left your employer plan, you will need to show Medicare that you had prior, qualifying coverage.

This is so that Medicare does not charge you a penalty for not having signed up with Medicare when you were first eligible, turning 65 years of age.

If you opted for COBRA (continuation of employer insurance), you MUST still apply for Medicare no later than the 8th month on COBRA, even if you are planning to continue on COBRA beyond the 9th month. This is to avoid the Medicare penalty and having lost this enrollment window.

Now, here’s how to get started when coming from an Employer/Group plan:

IF YOU CAN TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OR SCAN IN YOUR VERIFICATION OF GROUP HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE (THAT YOU HAVE HAD WITHIN THE LAST 8 MONTHS), YOU CAN NOW USE THIS ELECTRONIC FORM AND SKIP THE PAPERWORK OPTION BELOW. 

HERE IS THE ELECTRONIC WAY TO APPLY NOW, IF YOU CAN SCAN OR PHOTOGRAPH THE PROOF OF PRIOR COVERAGE – CLICK HERE.

If you do NOT have the ability to photograph or scan documents and use the electronic version, here is your path:

1. Download both forms below
   (“Part B Enrollment” and “Part B Employer Verification of Benefits Form”).

   • Part B Enrollment – Click Here to Download This Form

   • Part B Employer Verification of Benefits Form – Click Here to Download This Form

2. Fill out “Part B Enrollment” and be sure to legibly write the date you’d like Part B to begin on the form

3. Have HR (Former employer) fill out “Part B Employer Verification of Benefits Form”.
   
   If the employer cannot fill out the Employer form for you, you can fill out Section B yourself. You would then need to submit one of the following forms as secondary evidence:

   • income tax form that shows health insurance premiums paid;

   • W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions;

   • pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions;

   • health insurance cards with a policy effective date;

   • explanations of benefits paid by the GHP or LGHP; or

   • statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.

4.  

5. Overnight these two forms to your local SSA office or send via certified mail with “URGENT” written on the envelope.
   Here is a directory of the Social Security offices:
   https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
   
   You could also fax the forms to:
   1-833-914-2016 or, now, upload them on the Social Security website if you have a scanner.
   
   Need help?
   Contact us below!

Last Option:

If you are not turning 65, not leaving an employer or group plan, and are just realizing that you want to start Medicare, this could be a problem.

If you are beyond the 3 months from your birthday, you will possibly have to wait for the General Enrollment Period for Part B, which happens only once per year.

The folks at Social Security can determine if this is the case for you. You can call them at 1-800-772-1213.

The General Enrollment Period is January 1 until March 31 year year. Your coverage would then start July 1 and you will have to pay a late enrollment.

You can see the exceptions to this, and the process entirely here:

https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/how-do-i-get-parts-a-b/part-a-part-b-sign-up-periods