Apply for Medicare
Applying for Medicare is fairly simple. First, you must consider available enrollment periods. Then, you must decide the coverage you want. Finally, you must either submit an application or accept automatic enrollment, depending on the plan.
Let’s walk through each of these steps to help you apply for Medicare.
#1: Determine Your Enrollment Period
If you’re looking to apply for Medicare, you need to first consider your enrollment period options. During this stretch of time, you will have a few options, listed here:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): The IEP starts 3 months before, continues through the month of, and ends 3 months after your 65th birthday, for a total of 7 months. During this time, you may apply for any Medicare plan of your choice, including Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), Part D, and/or a supplement plan (Medigap).
- General Enrollment Period (GEP): If you miss your IEP and did not sign up when you were first eligible, you may apply for Original Medicare January 1st through March 31st during the GEP.
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): During the AEP from October 15th through December 7th, you can make changes and apply for different Medicare plans. You can upgrade your Original Medicare coverage to a supplement or Advantage plan (and vice versa), add or drop a Part D plan, or switch insurers.
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): With a SEP, you can enroll in Medicare at any time. You must, however, qualify for a SEP. You may be able to use a SEP if you or your spouse are still working at age 65, move out of your current plan’s service area, or become eligible for a federal assistance program.
#2: Choose What You’re Applying For
Now that you know when to apply for Medicare, you need to decide what you are applying for. Make sure, before you consider any additional plans, that you are enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you aren’t, none of the other plans will be available to you.
Decide how much coverage you want. With Original Medicare alone, you can expect decent coverage on a few basic emergency and medical services. However, if you want any additional coverage for things like checkups, premiums, prescriptions, etc., you should consider adding an Advantage, supplement, and/or Part D plan.
#3: Enroll Manually or Automatically
If you are a U.S. citizen and have worked at least 10 years paying Social Security taxes and are collecting Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare, without having to apply. If you are not collecting Social Security benefits, please go to ssa.gov or contact me for assistance.
#4: Applying for Medicare
To apply for Medicare please visit ssa.gov for more information and a step-by-step on how to apply.
In some cases, you may need to fill out certain forms, if you qualify for either one of these please fill out the applicable form.
Have Medicare Part A only and want Part BLive In Puerto Rico or just moved to Florida and didn’t receive your Part B Signing up for Part B during General Enrollment Period Jan 1 – March 31. Part B will be effective July
Applying for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period
Have any questions about these forms or need help signing up for Medicare? Please call 813-553-3822, ext. 102
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