How to Enroll in Medicare (Turning 65)
Sign up during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period. This starts 3 months before your 65th birthday. It ends 3 months after that. Most people apply online through Social Security. It takes under an hour.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Part A usually free; Part B $202.90/month standard (2026)
- Total time:
- 45 min application
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- ssa.gov
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official US sources(October 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 20 min
Learn your enrollment window
Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months. It covers your 65th birthday month. It also covers the 3 months before it and the 3 months after it. If you sign up late, you can face penalties for life.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go 15 min
Check if you already have Part A
If you already get Social Security benefits, you are usually automatically enrolled in both Part A and Part B when you turn 65. This is true if you or your spouse worked 10+ years (40 quarters) in the US and paid Medicare taxes.
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- Fill / Prepare 45 min
Apply online at ssa.gov
Fill out the Medicare application online. It takes ~30–45 min. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit an office. You do NOT need to be retired to apply.
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- Wait ~2 weeks
Receive your Medicare card
Your Medicare card arrives by mail about 2 weeks after you are approved. The card is red, white, and blue. It shows your Medicare number. It also shows your Part A/B start dates.
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- Fill / Prepare 1–2 hours
Decide on Part D and Medigap
Original Medicare does not cover most drugs. Sign up for a Part D drug plan. Use the medicare.gov plan finder. Think about a Medigap plan too. Sign up within 6 months of your Part B start date. This gives you guaranteed issue.
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- Follow Up 30 min
Verify coverage with your doctors
Check that your doctors accept Medicare. Check that your pharmacies are in your Part D network. Keep your card in your wallet. Keep the number private.
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Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Signing up late. Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months. It covers your 65th birthday month and the 3 months before it and the 3 months after it. If you sign up late, you can face penalties for life. The Part B late penalty is 10 percent extra for every full 12 months of delay, paid for life.
Assuming you must be retired to apply. You do NOT need to be retired to apply for MedicareFederal health insurance for 65+ — The federal health insurance program mainly for people 65 and older, plus some younger people with disabilities.Click for official info ↗. Fill out the application online at ssaSocial Security Administration — The agency that issues Social Security numbers/cards and pays retirement, disability (SSDI), and SSI benefits.Click for official info ↗.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213, or visit an office.
Assuming Part A and Part B start automatically for everyone. If you already get Social Security benefits, you are usually automatically enrolled in both Part A and Part B when you turn 65, if you or your spouse worked 10 or more years, or 40 quarters, in the US and paid Medicare taxes.
Skipping Part D drug cover. Original Medicare does not cover most drugs. Sign up for a Part D drug plan and use the medicare.gov plan finder to compare plans.
Missing the Medigap guaranteed issue window. Think about a Medigap plan too, and sign up within 6 months of your Part B start date. That gives you guaranteed issue.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am still working at 65 with employer insurance?
You may be able to wait to sign up for Part B. You will not face a penalty in some cases. Your employer must have 20+ employees. Its coverage must be primary. Talk to HR before you decide. The penalty is 10% per year of delay. It lasts forever.
What is the Part B late penalty?
For every full 12 months when you could sign up but did not, you pay 10% extra. You pay this extra cost on your Part B premium. You pay it for life. This is why timing matters.
Is Medicare free?
Part A is free of premiums for most people. Part B has a monthly premium. The standard premium is $202.90 in 2026, and it depends on your income. Part B also has a $283 deductible each year. Part D premiums vary by plan. Stand-alone Part D plans cost about $36/month on average in 2026, while drug coverage in Medicare Advantage plans cost about $8/month on average. These figures are per KFF analysis of CMS data.
How do I sign up for Medicare at 65?
First, learn your enrollment window: your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months, covering your 65th birthday month and the 3 months before it and the 3 months after it, and if you sign up late, you can face penalties for life. Then check if you already have Part A: if you already get Social Security benefits, you are usually automatically enrolled in both Part A and Part B when you turn 65, if you or your spouse worked 10+ years (40 quarters) in the US and paid Medicare taxes. Then apply online at ssa.gov, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes, or call 1-800-772-1213 or visit an office, and you do not need to be retired to apply. Your Medicare card arrives by mail about 2 weeks after you are approved: it is red, white, and blue, and shows your Medicare number and your Part A and B start dates. Then decide on Part D and Medigap: Original Medicare does not cover most drugs, so sign up for a Part D drug plan using the medicare.gov plan finder, and think about a Medigap plan too, signing up within 6 months of your Part B start date for guaranteed issue. Then verify coverage with your doctors and pharmacies: check that your doctors accept Medicare and that your pharmacies are in your Part D network, keep your card in your wallet, and keep the number private. In short, signing up for Medicare at 65 means applying during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, mostly online through Social Security, in under an hour.
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