Medicare Part A & Part B Enrollment | Welborn Insurance Agency

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)

Enrollment

Once you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare (usually 3 months before you turn 65), you have 2 options:

Apply to start getting benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board). Once you’re approved to start getting benefits, you’ll automatically get Part A coverage. You’ll choose if you want Part B coverage when you apply for benefits.

Contact Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) to sign up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). You must have Part A and Part B before you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug, or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan.

Apply online at www.ssa.gov. This is 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 Social Security benefits online.
Call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
Contact your local Social Security office.
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

Once you sign up (or are approved for benefits), you’ll get a welcome package with your Medicare card.

When your coverage starts

The date your coverage starts depends on which month you sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. Coverage always starts on the first of the month.

If you qualify for Premium-free Part A: Your Part A coverage starts the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first of the month, coverage starts the month before you turn 65.)

Part B (and Premium-Part A): Coverage starts based on the month you sign up:

If you sign up:	Coverage starts:
before the month you turn 65	The month you turn 65
The month you turn 65, or during the 3 months after	The next month

I have Part A and want to add Part B

Contact Social Security to sign up for Part B:

Fill out Form CMS - 40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B). Send the completed form to your local Social Security office by fax or mail.
Call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
Contact your local Social Security office.
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

I'm over 65, still working and retiring soon

As you make your plans to retire, you need to make several important decisions about
your Medicare coverage.

Decide whether to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when you retire
(if you haven’t already)
Decide whether you need additional coverage (Medicare Advantage, Medigap)
Decide whether you need Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D)

When do I need to decide?

Even if you will have other coverage available to you after you retire, you will still need
to make some Medicare enrollment decisions before you stop working. There can be
penalties if you do not enroll on time, so it is best to make these decisions before
you stop working. Click here for for information from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help you make these important decisions.

Why don't I contact Medicare to sign up for Part A and Part B?

Medicare provides your coverage, but you'll sign up through Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) because they need to see if you're eligible for Medicare, including whether you (or another qualifying person) paid Medicare taxes long enough to get Part A without having to pay a monthly premium. They also process requests to sign up for Part B for Medicare.

You don’t need to create a Medicare account to sign up. After you sign up and get your Medicare Number, you can create your secure Medicare account. You can also join a plan or buy supplemental insurance to get more coverage.