When you turn 65, you can sign up for Medicare. However, there are enrollment periods.

1. The Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months. It consists of the first three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your birthday, and three months after your birthday. Note: If you do not enroll in parts B or D during this time, you will be penalized a 10% premium increase for every month beyond. If you are under age 65 and have a qualifying disability, you will have to wait one full year after receiving disability benefits. The IEP is 7 months… three months before one year (the 25th month), the actual 25th month (month of a full year) and 3 months after the 25th month.
2. The Annual Enrollment Period – Every year from October 15th through December 7th. Enrollment in plans during this period will go into effect on January 1st of the following
   year.
3. The Open Enrollment Period – Every year from January 1st through March 31st, you can enroll in a new plan or change Medicare plans. Enrollment in plans during this period will go into effect on the first day of the month following enrollment.
4. The Special Enrollment Period – This is a time of enrollment which is allowed due to a special life event. Things like moving to a new zip code, losing other creditable health coverage, or being involved in a natural disaster are a few of the events which usually allow for this new enrollment opportunity.

To enroll for the first time, you can apply at the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can go to your local office, apply by phone, or apply online at their website, ssa.gov. Online is usually the quickest process and requires you to create a “My Social Security Account” to complete the application. Once enrolled in Parts A and B, you can get a Medicare Advantage Plan, a Medigap Plan, or a Prescription Drug plan for additional coverage. To do this, you can contact insurance companies offering Medicare plans, contact an insurance
agent, or contact me at this link: Book A Consultation or Call Today or Email Loren

Medicare or Original Medicare consist of two parts: Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). Medicare Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home healthcare. Medicare Part B covers doctor’s services outside of the hospital. It includes outpatient care, medical supplies, and annual check-ups and preventative services. Part B usually covers up to 80% of costs. As a comparison, Medicare Advantage plans help pay for costs (like deductibles and coinsurance) not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B). They can also offer additional services like dental and vision coverage, and gym memberships. Many plans also include prescription drug coverage. For this reason, Part C plans are also known as “All in One” plans. Medicare Advantage is not a part of Original Medicare, but it must cover at least what is covered by Original Medicare.

Most people will not pay a premium for Part A. You may pay one if you or your spouse did not work or pay Medicare taxes for a specific period of time. In this case, premiums can range from $2025 to $518 per month for 2025. Most people will pay $185 per month in 2025 for Part B, but all costs depend upon your annual income. The cost for monthly premiums is listed below:

If you’re married and lived with your spouse at some time during the taxable year, but filed a separate tax return, the following chart applies to you:

Source: Social Security Administration - https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/medicare-premiums.html

Medicare Advantage plans may have a monthly premium which can vary from $0 to $30. They may also have copays for services. Many also have an annual deductible that must be satisfied before coverage. Medigap plans have monthly premiums which can range from $40 to $400. Prescription Drug plans can vary from $40 to $200 monthly. The costs and services of each plan depend upon what is being offered in your area and/or zip code.

For many people, what original Medicare covers is not enough or is potentially too costly. As a result, the Medicare program offers two primary options to increase coverage. Administered by private insurance companies, these options are Medicare Advantage and Medigap. Medicare Advantage helps pay for costs (like deductibles and coinsurance) not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B). They can also offer additional services like dental and vision coverage, and gym memberships. Many plans also include prescription drug coverage. For this reason, Part C plans are also known as “All in One” plans. Medicare Advantage is not a part of Original Medicare, but it must cover at least what is covered by Original Medicare.

By comparison, Medigap (Medicare Supplemental Plans) also help pay for out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles and coinsurance) not covered by Parts A and B. The cover up the gaps in Original Medicare hence the name “Medigap.” It is usually a bit more comprehensive in coverage than Part C but also tends to be more costly. They also do not include prescription drug coverage and a stand-alone plan would need to be purchased through Part D. Note: Although they are offered by private insurance companies, Medigap plans ARE a part of Original Medicare and work in conjunction with Part A, Part B, and Part D.

Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They oversee the program’s policies and operations and work to maintain high quality care for lower costs. They also regulate and assist the private insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Prescription Drug plans.

You will automatically be eligible to sign up for Medicare Part A if you have contributed enough to FICA taxes. You may be penalized for Part B and Part D late enrollment. Whether or not you must enroll to avoid a late penalty depends upon the size of your employer.

1. If you are employed at a company with 20 employees or more, you can delay enrollment. If you have employee sponsored health insurance, you can avoid being penalized for late enrollment. When your employment ends, you will have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up after employment and/or your employer sponsored insurance ends.
2. If you are employed by a company with less than 20 employees, you will not get an SEP and must enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) at 65.

Yes. If you are under age 65 and have a qualifying disability, or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you can get Medicare. To enroll, you will have to wait one full year after receiving disability benefits. The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is 7 months… three months before the one-year month (the 25th month), the actual 25th month (month of a full year) and 3 months after the 25th month.

If you are already enrolled in Social Security or collecting Railroad Retirement benefits for 4 months before your 65th birthday, you will automatically be enrolled. If you have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits for the past 24 months or have ESRD, you may be automatically enrolled. Otherwise, you will have to register. In all cases, you should check to verify your registration.