The Age When You Can Sign Up for Medicare

Medicare starts at 65 for most people, but you may be able to join earlier if you have a disability or end-stage renal disease

You can sign up for Medicare the month you turn 65. That is the standard age, and it applies whether you are still working or retired. If you were born on the first of the month, you can sign up the month before you turn 65. If you were born on any other day, your may be able to access month is the month you turn 65.

You do not have to wait until 65 if you have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, or if you have end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant) or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). In those cases, you can sign up as soon as you meet the condition, regardless of age.

The month you become may be able to access is not the same as the month your coverage starts. There is a window of time to sign up, and when you sign up matters — it affects when your coverage begins and whether you pay a penalty later.

Key Takeaways

You become may be able to access for Medicare the month you turn 65, or earlier if you receive disability benefits, have end-stage renal disease, or have ALS.
Your initial enrollment period is seven months long: three months before the month you turn 65, the month itself, and three months after.
If you sign up during your initial enrollment period, Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) coverage can start as early as the first day of your may be able to access month.
Signing up late — after your initial enrollment period ends — can result in a permanent penalty added to your Part B and Part D premiums.
If you are still working and have health insurance through your employer, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty, but you must sign up for Part A.

Signing up during your initial enrollment period

Your initial enrollment period is a seven-month window. It starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. For example, if you turn 65 in June, your enrollment period runs from March through September.

You can sign up online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at your local Social Security office. You will need your Social Security number and information about your current health coverage if you have it.

If you sign up in the month you turn 65 or earlier, your Part A and Part B coverage can start on the first day of your may be able to access month. If you sign up after the month you turn 65, your coverage will start the month after you sign up. This timing matters if you are losing employer coverage or need medical care right away.

What happens if you sign up late

If you do not sign up during your initial enrollment period, you can still sign up later during the general enrollment period, which runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. However, coverage does not start until July 1 of that year, and you will have a gap in coverage.

More importantly, you will owe a late enrollment penalty. For Part B, the penalty is 10 percent of the standard premium for each full year you were may be able to access but not signed up. That penalty is permanent — you pay it for as long as you have Part B. The same rule applies to Part D (prescription drug coverage): if you go 63 days or more without coverage, you pay a penalty when you sign up.

The only way to avoid the Part B penalty is to have had creditable coverage (health insurance that is at least as good as Medicare Part B) through an employer or your spouse's employer while you were working. If you had that coverage, you can delay Part B without penalty, but you must still sign up for Part A at 65.

Signing up before you turn 65 if you have a disability

If you receive Social Security disability benefits, you become may be able to access for Medicare automatically after you have been receiving benefits for 24 months. You do not have to explore — Medicare will contact you. Your coverage starts the month after the 24-month period ends.

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of a disability, you may be may be able to access for Medicare sooner. Contact Social Security to find out your specific may be able to access date.

If you have end-stage renal disease, you can sign up for Medicare as soon as your doctor determines you need dialysis or a kidney transplant. Your coverage can start the month you begin treatment. If you have ALS, you become may be able to access when ready — you do not have to wait any length of time.

Coordinating Medicare with employer health insurance

If you are still working at 65 and your employer has 20 or more employees, you can delay signing up for Part B without penalty. Your employer's health insurance is considered primary, meaning it pays first. You must still sign up for Part A at 65, but Part B can wait.

When you leave your job or lose that employer coverage, you have a special enrollment period of eight months to sign up for Part B without penalty. This is different from the initial enrollment period — it gives you extra time because you had other coverage.

If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare becomes primary at 65, and you should sign up for Part B right away to avoid gaps in coverage and penalties.

Understanding the different parts of Medicare

Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You must sign up for Part A at 65 or when you become may be able to access due to disability or end-stage renal disease.

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, medical equipment, and preventive services. It has a monthly premium that changes each year. You can delay Part B if you have creditable employer coverage, but delaying without that coverage results in a permanent penalty.

Part D is prescription drug coverage offered by private insurance companies. You can sign up during your initial enrollment period or during the annual enrollment period (October 15 through December 7). If you go without Part D coverage for more than 63 days after you are may be able to access, you will owe a penalty when you sign up.

Medigap (supplemental insurance) and Medicare Advantage (Part C) are optional. Medigap helps pay costs that Medicare does not cover. Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare that includes Part A, Part B, and usually Part D through a private plan. You can sign up for these during your initial enrollment period or during the annual enrollment period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sign up for Medicare before I turn 65?

You can sign up three months before you turn 65. Your initial enrollment period starts three months before your 65th birthday. If you have a disability, end-stage renal disease, or ALS, you can sign up as soon as you meet that condition, regardless of age.

What if I miss my initial enrollment period?

You can sign up during the general enrollment period from January 1 through March 31, but coverage does not start until July 1. You will also owe a permanent late enrollment penalty on your Part B and Part D premiums. The only exception is if you had creditable employer coverage — then you can delay Part B without penalty.

Do I have to sign up for all parts of Medicare at once?

No. You must sign up for Part A at 65 (or when you become may be able to access). You can delay Part B if you have employer coverage. Part D and supplemental coverage are optional and can be added later, though delaying Part D without coverage results in a penalty.

What if I am still working at 65?

If your employer has 20 or more employees and offers health insurance, you can delay Part B. You must still sign up for Part A. When you leave your job, you have eight months to sign up for Part B without penalty. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, sign up for both Part A and Part B at 65.

How do I know my exact may be able to access month?

Your may be able to access month is the month you turn 65, unless you were born on the first of the month — then it is the month before. You can check your may be able to access date on your Social Security account at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.