Apply

The Social Security Administration handles Medicare eligibility and enrollment. You can contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to enroll in Medicare or to ask questions about whether you are eligible. You can also visit their Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.

When should you apply?

If you're already getting Social Security retirement or disability benefits or Railroad Retirement checks, you will be contacted a few months before you become eligible for Medicare. You will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) and your Medicare card will be mailed to you. If you do not want the Part B, follow the instructions that come with the card.

If you are not getting retirement benefits, you should contact the Social Security about 3 months before your 65 th birthday to sign up for Medicare. By applying early you will avoid a possible delay in the start of your Part B coverage. Do not put off enrolling. If you wait 12 or more months to sign up, your premiums generally will be higher.

Even if you continue to work after you turn 65, you should at least sign up for Part A of Medicare. Part A may help pay some of the costs not covered by the employer plan. It may not, however, be advisable to sign up for Part B at the same time. You would have to pay the monthly Part B premium and the Part B benefits would be of limited value to you as long as the employer plan was the primary payer of your medical bills.

If you do not enroll during the initial seven-month period (three months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65 and three months after you turn 65), you will have to wait to enroll during the next general enrollment period. General enrollment periods are held January 1 to March 31 of each year and Part B coverage starts the following July.

Persons with disabilities, will automatically get a Medicare card in the mail after you have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.

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07/07/2005