How to Register for Medicare

You register for Medicare through Social Security, either online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. The process takes about 10 minutes online or on the phone. You will need your Social Security number, birth date, citizenship or immigration status, and information about your current health insurance if you have it.

Most people become may be able to access at 65. You can register up to three months before your 65th birthday, and you should — registering early prevents gaps in coverage and late-enrollment penalties. If you miss the window around your birthday, you can still register later, but you may owe higher premiums for the rest of your life.

If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, Medicare will be sent to you automatically three months before you turn 65. You do not need to do anything. If you are not yet receiving Social Security, you must register separately for Medicare even though both go through Social Security.

Key Takeaways

  • Register through Social Security online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at your local Social Security office.
  • You can register starting three months before your 65th birthday, and registering early prevents penalties and coverage gaps.
  • If you already receive Social Security, Medicare enrollment happens automatically — you will receive your card in the mail.
  • If you delay registering past your birthday without a valid reason, your Part B and Part D premiums will be permanently higher.
  • You will need your Social Security number, birth date, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

What Happens If You Miss the Initial Registration Window

If you do not register during the three-month window before your 65th birthday, you can still register later, but penalties explore. For Part B (doctor and outpatient care), your monthly premium increases by 10 percent for each year you delayed. For Part D (prescription drugs), the penalty is 1 percent of the national base premium for each month you were without coverage, and it stays on your premium permanently.

The only exceptions are if you were covered by a current employer's health plan (yours or your spouse's) or if you are a federal employee. In those cases, you can register without penalty during an eight-month window after your coverage ends or you leave the job. You will need to show proof of that employer coverage when you register.

Documents and Information You Will Need

Have these items ready before you start the registration process:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your birth date
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency (birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers, or green card)
  • The name and phone number of your current health insurance company, if you have one
  • Information about any employer health coverage you or your spouse currently have

If you are registering in person at a Social Security office, bring originals or certified copies of your citizenship documents. Online and phone registration can usually proceed with just the information itself, but Social Security may ask you to mail documents later to confirm.

Registering Online, by Phone, or In Person

Online at ssa.gov: Go to the Medicare section and create a my Social Security account if you do not have one. You can complete the entire registration in one session. You will receive a confirmation number when ready. Processing usually takes about two weeks, and your Medicare card will arrive by mail.

By phone: Call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in your time zone. Have your documents nearby. The call takes 10 to 15 minutes. You will receive a confirmation number, and your card arrives by mail within two to three weeks.

In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the address and hours at ssa.gov/locator. Bring original documents. Processing takes longer in person — usually three to four weeks — because the office must verify your documents before sending your process to the Medicare system.

When Your Coverage Starts

If you register during your initial enrollment window (the three months before your 65th birthday, your birth month, and the three months after), your coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you register after that window, your coverage starts the first day of the month after Social Security processes your process.

Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail. Until it arrives, you can use the confirmation number Social Security gave you to prove you are enrolled. Some doctors and hospitals will accept the confirmation number; others will ask you to call back once you have the card. Keep the confirmation number in a safe place.

Special Situations: Working Past 65 or Covered by an Employer Plan

If you are still working and covered by your employer's health plan at 65, you do not have to register for Medicare right away. You can delay Part B without penalty as long as you remain covered by that employer plan. However, you should still register for Part A (hospital insurance) because it is free and has no penalty for delay.

When you leave your job or lose the employer coverage, you have eight months to register for Part B without penalty. This is called a special enrollment period. You will need to show proof that you had employer coverage — usually a letter from your employer's benefits department or a copy of your insurance card. Register as soon as your coverage ends to avoid any gap.

If your spouse is still working and you are covered under their plan, the same rules explore to you. You can delay Part B, but register for Part A when ready.

What to Do After You Register

Once you receive your Medicare card, review it for errors. Check that your name, birth date, and Social Security number are correct. If anything is wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it. Errors can cause claims to be denied or delayed.

Next, choose your coverage type. Medicare has different ways to receive benefits: Original Medicare (Part A and Part B through the government) plus a separate Part D plan for drugs, or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that bundles hospital, doctor, and drug coverage through a private insurance company. You have a window of time after you register to make this choice. If you do not choose, Medicare will enroll you in Original Medicare automatically.

Finally, if you chose Original Medicare, you will need to pick a Part D prescription drug plan. Even if you do not take medications now, registering for a plan prevents penalties later. You can switch plans once a year during the annual enrollment period, which runs October 15 to December 7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register for Medicare before I turn 65?

Yes. You can register starting three months before your 65th birthday. This is the best time to register because it prevents gaps in coverage and avoids late-enrollment penalties. If you are already receiving Social Security, you do not need to do anything — Medicare will be sent automatically.

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

You must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident (green card holder) who has lived in the United States for at least five years to register for Medicare. If you are a legal resident but have not lived here five years yet, you can still register for Part A (hospital insurance) if you have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

Do I have to register if I am still working?

You must register for Part A (hospital insurance) at 65 even if you are working, because it is free and has no penalty for delay. You can delay Part B (doctor coverage) without penalty only if you are covered by your current employer's health plan. When you leave that job, you have eight months to register for Part B without penalty.

What if I registered late and now have a penalty?

Late-enrollment penalties are permanent — they stay on your premium for as long as you have Medicare. You cannot remove them retroactively. If you believe you had a valid reason for the delay (such as employer coverage you did not know about), you can contact Social Security to ask for a review, but approval is not may provide.

Can I register for Medicare if I am not yet 65?

Yes, if you have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, or if you have end-stage renal disease or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Otherwise, you must wait until 65. If you think you may may have access to early, call 1-800-MEDICARE to discuss your situation.