Frequently asked questions
Most people age into Medicare when they turn 65. Some younger individuals with disabilities or End Stage Renal Disease may also qualify for Medicare coverage.
Most people on Medicare qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A. If you are at least 65 and either you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, you may qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A. You will qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board retirement benefits or if you are eligible for these retirement benefits but have not filed for them yet. You can also be eligible for premium free Medicare Part A if either you or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if you have been receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months, you have Lou Gehrig’s disease or you are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.
If you do not qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A, you may be able to buy coverage if you are at least 65 years old and either a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
You can apply for Medicare during the Initial Enrollment Period that occurs when you turn 65.
The Initial Enrollment Period lasts for seven months. It covers your birthday month, the three months before your birthday month and the three months after your birthday month. Although you can sign up for coverage any time during this seven-month period, if you don’t sign up during the three months before your birthday month, the coverage start date will be delayed, and this may result in a gap in coverage.
If you do not enroll for coverage during your Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to pay a late penalty for coverage. This late penalty is a recurring penalty that increases the cost of your premium. However, some people qualify for penalty-free late enrollment. For example, you may qualify for penalty-free late enrollment if you have qualifying healthcare coverage through active employment.
In addition to the Initial Enrollment Period, you may be able to apply for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period based on life events. You can also apply during the General Enrollment Period, which occurs between January 1 and March 31 of each year. Every year, you will be given an opportunity to change your enrollment during the fall Annual Election Period.
Some people are automatically enrolled in Medicare, but others have to apply for coverage.
You may be automatically enrolled in Medicare if you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board retirement benefits when you turn 65. Coverage typically starts on the first day of the month you turn 65, but if your birthday is on the first of the month, it will start on the first day of the month before your birthday.
If you are not automatically enrolled in Medicare, you can apply for coverage. Unless you know you qualify for penalty-free late enrollment, it’s important to sign up for coverage during your Initial Enrollment Period, which covers your birthday month, the three months before and the three months after. Otherwise, you may face lifetime late enrollment penalties.
To avoid problems, you should contact the Social Security Administration to apply for Medicare coverage three months before you turn 65. You can sign up at the Social Security website, or you can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or go to your local Social Security Administration office.
We offer all Medicare plan types including Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement insurance, Medicare Advantage plans, Special Needs plans and Medicare Part D. Coverage is available in all 50 states. You are welcome to use our plan selector to research your coverage options and compare available plans. We will also connect you with a licensed insurance agent to guide you through the selection process and to answer any questions you may have.
You will need the information below to compare Medicare plans and enroll for coverage:
• Prescriptions: Prepare a list of your medications, including the drug name, dosage and frequency, as well as your preferred pharmacies.
• Preferred medical providers: Create a list of your doctors, clinics and hospitals so you can verify that they will be in network for plans you are considering.
• Planned medical procedures: List the medical services you may need in the coming year so you can evaluate the out-of-pocket costs under different plans.
• Desired benefits: Make sure the plans you consider offer the benefits you need such as dental, vision, telehealth and hearing aid benefits.
For more information about how to choose the right plan for you, read, Best Medicare Plans: Key Considerations.
