Online (at Social Security) – It’s the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. (You’ll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits.) Contact your local Social Security office.

Most people get Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) when first eligible (usually when turning 65). Answer a few questions to check when and how to sign up based on your personal situation. Learn about Part A and Part B sign up periods and when coverage starts.

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Some people get Medicare automatically, others have to actively sign up -- it depends if you start getting retirement or disability benefits from ...

Generally, you’re first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after you turn 65. Find out if: Your state will sign you up for Medicare (or if you need to sign up). Your Medicaid coverage will change after you’re eligible for Medicare. What else do I need to know?

Once you sign up for Medicare, you can join a health or drug plan at certain times. To join a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), you need both Part A and Part B. To join a Medicare drug plan (Part D) , you only need Part A or Part B. Find out when you can join a plan.

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 ...

You’ll need your Medicare Number to create your secure Medicare account here on Medicare.gov, join a plan, or buy supplemental insurance. Generally, you can only drop Part A (Hospital Insurance) if you have to pay a premium for it, also called Premium-Part A.

Starts 3 months before you get Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) and ends 3 months after you get Medicare. Join any plan. You need both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) to join a Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.

Get your Medicare information faster by getting your “Medicare & You” handbook and Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) electronically.

You should generally sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible (usually when you turn 65) to avoid a delay in Medicare coverage and the possibility of a Medicare late enrollment penalty. You don’t need to join the Marketplace if you have Medicare.