Medicare.gov

Do I need to sign up for Medicare when I turn 65?

You can answer a few questions to find out when you should sign up or review the scenarios below. 
 
Find Out When to Sign Up

If you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A (Hospital Insurance) , you can choose to sign up when you turn 65 (or anytime later). Will I have to pay a premium for Part A?

If you (or your spouse) have health insurance from a job:

If you or your spouse are still working, you may be able to wait to sign up for Medicare without paying a late enrollment penalty. 

Where you have group health insurance that’s available to everyone at the company.
  • If you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A (Hospital Insurance) , you can choose to sign up when you turn 65 (or anytime later). Do I qualify?   
  • You can wait until you (or your spouse) stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) to sign up for Part B (Medical Insurance) , and you won’t pay a late enrollment penalty .
  • Once you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you can sign up for Medicare (or add Part B to existing Part A coverage). The SEP starts when you stop working (or lose insurance), even if you choose COBRA or other coverage that’s not Medicare.

Ask the employer that provides your health insurance if you need to sign up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) when you turn 65. If you don’t sign up for Part A and Part B, your job-based insurance might not cover the costs for services you get.

Where you’re self-employed or have health insurance that’s not available to everyone at the company (like retiree coverage).

Ask your insurance provider if your coverage is employer group health plan coverage (as defined by the IRS). If it’s not, sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 to avoid a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty .

If you have retiree coverage from a previous job, it may not pay for your health services if you don't have both Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) . Ask your benefits administrator how your retiree coverage works with Medicare. 

Don’t risk losing your retiree coverage — check before joining a plan.
The employer may offer coverage when you have Medicare, like a supplemental plan, drug coverage, or Medicare Advantage Plan. If they do, ask if you or your family will lose your retiree coverage if you join a plan the employer doesn’t offer. Get more information about retiree coverage & Medicare.

If you have health insurance that’s not from a job:

Like insurance from Medicaid, Marketplace, or another private company.

Answer a few questions to find out when to sign up for Medicare and get other important information, based on the specific type of coverage you have. 

The rules vary depending on what type of other health insurance you have. Contact your health insurance plan to get more information.

Like insurance you bought with a stipend from work.

Ask your health insurance company if you need to sign up for  Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) when you turn 65. Some private insurance companies have rules that lower what they pay (or don’t pay at all) for services you get if you’re eligible for other coverage, like Medicare. Once you sign up, Medicare pays first.

If you have COBRA coverage:

If your job offered you COBRA coverage after your employment ended, or after you lost coverage as the dependent of the covered employee, the rules may vary.

And haven’t signed up for Medicare yet. 
  •  Sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 to avoid gaps in coverage and a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty. 
  • Your COBRA coverage will probably end once you sign up.

Don’t wait until your COBRA coverage ends to sign up for Part B — COBRA coverage doesn’t extend your limited time to sign up for Medicare.

Get important information about COBRA and Medicare.

And you got COBRA after you signed up for Medicare. 

COBRA pays after Medicare (unless you have End-Stage Renal Disease).

Get important information about COBRA and Medicare.

If you don’t have health insurance:

And you’re still working.
  • Sign up for both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) when you’re first eligible (usually when you turn 65). If you sign up later, you may have to pay a penalty.
  • If you can’t afford insurance, there are ways to get help paying costs. 

How do I sign up for Medicare when I'm ready?

How you sign up depends on if you already have Part A (hospital insurance) coverage or if you’re signing up for both Part A and Part B (Medical Insurance) . Get forms and ways to sign up.

Your coverage will start the month after Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) processes your completed form.

Before you sign up:

  • If your employer coverage is ending, check when your current coverage ends and sign up for Medicare about a month earlier. Signing up for Medicare before your current coverage ends can help you avoid a gap in coverage.
  • If your employer coverage is changing, check with your benefits administrator to see what you’ll need. Ask if you’ll need to sign up for both Medicare Part A and Part B. 
  • If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you and your employer should stop contributing to your HSA 6 months before you retire or apply for benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board). This will ensure you avoid a tax penalty.
    Why should I stop contributions before I retire? 

Do I need to get more coverage?

After you sign up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance), you can choose how you get your coverage.

Before you go further: It’s important to learn more about your coverage options so you understand your choices.

If you have retiree coverage, don’t risk losing it. Check before joining a plan.
Your employer may offer coverage when you have Medicare, like a supplemental plan, drug coverage, or Medicare Advantage Plan. If they do, ask if you or your family will lose your retiree coverage if you join a plan the employer doesn’t offer.

 What do I need to know about drug coverage? 

As long as you have  creditable prescription drug coverage , you can wait to join a Medicare drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. 

  • If you aren’t sure your current drug plan is considered creditable, ask your plan – they have to tell you. Your plan will also send you this information every year.
  • Keep the information your current drug plan sends — you may need it when you’re ready to join a Medicare drug plan. (Don’t send this information to Medicare.) 

You won’t pay the Part D late enrollment penalty as long as you don’t go more than 63 days without creditable drug coverage. Learn how to avoid the late enrollment penalty.

Get more details about how Part D works with other insurance.

Can I get more help?

  • Social Security Administration (SSA): If you have questions about Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment, visit SSA.gov. 
  • State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): For free, one-on-one help choosing a plan, reviewing coverage, understanding costs, and more, find your local SHIP.
  • Your group health plan or other current insurer: If you have other health insurance and are Medicare-eligible (or will soon become Medicare-eligible), speak with your benefits administrator or your employer’s human resources department to learn how your benefits will work with Medicare. If you have prescription drug coverage, ask if it is considered creditable.
  • Medicare: If you would like to find health care providers and suppliers in your area that participate in Medicare or plans offered in your area, visit Medicare.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.