How to enroll in Medicare
Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, Special Needs and Medicare Supplement plans
have different rules for enrolling and applying.
How to enroll in Original Medicare Part A and Part B
If you start receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits before you turn 65, you should be enrolled in Original Medicare automatically.
If you are not enrolled automatically, you will need to sign up by yourself. You can enroll in Original Medicare online at the Social Security website in person at your local Social Security office or by phone at 1-800-772-1213 / TTY 1-800-325-0778.
You may not be notified when you will become eligible, so find your Initial Enrollment Period dates and put them in your calendar.
How to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies. To enroll, you need to contact the plan insurance provider directly. Follow these steps:
- Enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) first
- Find insurance providers that offer Medicare Advantage plans in your area
- Learn more about available plans: explore them online or call the provider
- Find a plan that has the health care benefits you want most and enroll directly with the plan provider online, by phone or with an agent
Note: Special Needs plans are Medicare Advantage plans, but not all of them allow online enrollment. Check with the provider for details.
How to enroll in a Medicare Special Needs plan
Special Needs plans (SNPs) are types of Medicare Advantage plans offered by private insurance companies. To enroll in a Special Needs plan you must be eligible for Original Medicare, live in the plan’s service area and meet eligibility requirements.
- For a Chronic Special Needs plan (C-SNP), you have a condition covered by an available plan
- For a Dual Special Needs plan (D-SNP), you are eligible for both Medicare coverage and Medicaid benefits
- For an Institutional Special Needs plan (I-SNP), you live in a contracted skilled nursing facility (SNF)
- For an Institutional Equivalent Special Needs plan (IE-SNP), you live in a contracted assisted living facility and need the same kind of care as people who live in a SNF
You can enroll in some Special Needs plans online. For others you need to enroll by phone with the plan provider or with the help of an agent.
How to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are also offered by private insurance companies. To enroll, you need to contact the plan insurance provider directly. Follow these steps:
- Enroll in Part A or Part B first (you don’t have to have both to get Part D)
- Find insurance providers that offer Medicare Part D plans in your area
- Learn more about available plans, such as their premiums, drug lists and cost sharing: explore them online or call the provider
- Find a plan that has the prescription drug benefits you want most and enroll directly with the plan provider online, by phone or with an agent
How to apply for a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan
Before we talk about how to enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, we need to look at when first.
What you need to know before you apply
Medicare Supplement plans are offered by private insurance companies and regulated by federal and state governments. In most states, these plans are named with letters: Plan A, Plan B and so on. Plans with the same name have the same coverage, no matter which company you choose. Not all plans are available in all states.
When to apply for a Medicare Supplement plan
You need to be enrolled in Original Medicare before you apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. After that, you can apply any time.
The best time to apply for a Medicare Supplement plan is during your six-month Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. This period begins the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, and lasts for 6 months.
During this time, you are guaranteed the right to buy a plan and cannot be denied coverage based on pre-existing health conditions. If you apply at another time, you could be denied coverage or charged a higher premium based on your health history.
Steps for applying for a Medigap plan
To apply for a Medicare Supplement plan, follow these steps:
- Find out which insurance companies sell Medicare Supplement plans in your state and if they sell the type of policy you want
- Search online or call the company to learn more about available plans and their benefits
- Look at each policy and decide which one best fits your health care needs
- Choose the plan you want and apply directly with the plan provider online, by phone or with an agent
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