File for Medicare in the three months before your 65th birthday

You should file for Medicare during the three-month window that starts three months before you turn 65. This means if your birthday is in June, you can file starting in March. Filing during this window ensures your coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65, with no gap.

The Social Security Administration processes Medicare enrollment during this period. You do not have to wait until the month you turn 65 — filing early in the window gives the system time to process your request and send your card before coverage begins.

If you miss this window, you can still file after 65, but your coverage will start later and you may face lifetime penalties on your premiums. The longer you wait past 65, the more expensive Medicare becomes.

Key Takeaways

  • File during the three-month period before your 65th birthday to start coverage on your 65th birthday month with no delay.
  • You can file online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at your local Social Security office.
  • If you delay filing past 65 without a valid reason, you will pay a permanent 10 percent increase on Part B premiums for each year you waited.
  • If you are still working and have employer health insurance, you may have a different important date — ask your employer's benefits office whether you can delay without penalty.
  • Part A (hospital insurance) has no premium if you paid Medicare taxes for 10 years, but Part B (doctor visits) requires you to enroll during the right window or pay more later.

What happens if you file before the three-month window

If you try to file more than three months before your 65th birthday, Social Security will not process your request. You will have to resubmit it once you enter the three-month window. There is no advantage to filing early — the system is designed to process applications only during that specific period.

Some people contact Medicare thinking they can get ahead by filing six months early. Social Security will tell you to call back closer to your birthday. This does not hurt you, but it does mean you have to file again.

What happens if you file after your 65th birthday

You can file after you turn 65, but your coverage will not start until the month after you file. If you turn 65 in June and do not file until August, your coverage starts in September. You are uninsured for those months.

More importantly, if you file after 65 without a valid reason, Medicare adds a permanent penalty to your Part B premium. For each 12-month period you delay, your premium increases by 10 percent for the rest of your life. If you delay two years, your premium is 20 percent higher forever — even after you finally enroll.

Part A (hospital insurance) does not have this penalty if you have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. But Part B (doctor visits and outpatient care) does carry the penalty, and it is permanent.

The exception: if you have employer health insurance

If you are still working at 65 and your employer offers health insurance, you may be able to delay Medicare Part B without the penalty. This is called the Special Enrollment Period. You must have coverage through your employer or your spouse's employer — coverage from a spouse's former employer or COBRA does not count.

To use this exception, you must file for Medicare Part A at 65 (the hospital part, which has no penalty for delay). You can delay Part B as long as you are covered by the employer plan. When you leave that job or the coverage ends, you have eight months to file for Part B without the penalty.

Tell your employer's benefits office that you are turning 65 and ask whether you can delay Part B. They will tell you whether your plan qualifies. Do not assume — some employer plans do not count as creditable coverage for Medicare purposes.

How to file: three ways to submit your request

You can file through any of these three routes. All three reach the same Social Security system, so choose whichever is easiest for you.

Online at Medicare.gov: Go to Medicare.gov, click "Sign up for Medicare," and create or log into your Social Security account. You will answer questions about your work history and citizenship. The online form takes 15 to 20 minutes. You can save your progress and come back later if you need to gather documents.

By phone: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). A representative will walk you through the questions and submit your request. The call usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Have your Social Security number, birth date, and citizenship information ready.

In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the nearest one at ssa.gov/locator. Bring your Social Security card, birth certificate, and proof of citizenship (passport, naturalization papers, or state ID). Processing in person takes about 30 minutes, but you avoid phone wait times.

What documents you need before you file

You do not need to gather much. Social Security already has most of what it needs from your work history. Have these items ready when you file:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your birth certificate or passport
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status (passport, naturalization certificate, or state ID)
  • Your bank account number and routing number if you want direct deposit for any future benefits

If you are filing online, you can upload documents as image files. If you are filing by phone, Social Security will tell you whether they need originals mailed in. If you are filing in person, bring the originals — the office will make copies.

What to expect after you file

Social Security will send you a notice by mail within two weeks confirming that your request was received. This notice will show your expected coverage start date.

Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail four to six weeks before your coverage starts. The card shows your Medicare number, which you will need when you see doctors or fill prescriptions. If your card does not arrive by the time your coverage starts, you can show the confirmation notice to your doctor or pharmacy — they can look up your coverage using your Social Security number.

You will also receive information about Part D (prescription drug coverage). You can enroll in a Part D plan during your initial enrollment period, which runs from three months before your 65th birthday through three months after. If you do not enroll in Part D when you first become may be able to access and you do not have other creditable prescription coverage, you will pay a permanent penalty when you eventually enroll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for Medicare before I turn 65?

You can file starting three months before your 65th birthday. If you try to file earlier than that, Social Security will reject your request and ask you to resubmit during the correct window. There is no benefit to filing more than three months early.

What if I miss the important date and turn 65 without filing?

You can still file after 65, but your coverage will start the month after you file, not on your birthday. You will also owe a permanent 10 percent increase on your Part B premium for each year you delayed. If you delay two years, you pay 20 percent more forever.

Do I have to file for both Part A and Part B at the same time?

You can file for both at once, which is the simplest approach. If you are still working and have employer insurance, you can file for Part A at 65 and delay Part B until you leave that job, as long as your employer plan qualifies as creditable coverage.

What if I am not a U.S. citizen?

You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and have lived in the United States for at least five years to be may be able to access for Medicare. Bring your naturalization papers or green card when you file. If you are not sure about your status, ask Social Security during the filing process.

Can I change my mind after I file?

Yes. You have until the end of the month after your coverage starts to cancel Part B if you change your mind. Contact Social Security or Medicare to request the cancellation. After that window closes, you are locked in until the next annual enrollment period in the fall.