When Does Medicare Coverage Start?

Medicare coverage generally starts when you turn 65 and are a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the United States for at least five years. You can enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which begins three months before your 65th birthday month, includes your birthday month, and ends three months after your birthday month.

You may be eligible for Medicare coverage if you’re under 65, with specific disabilities, or end-stage renal disease. In some cases, you may also qualify for Medicare coverage if you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

It’s a good idea to enroll during your IEP unless you have other health insurance coverage, like through an employer or retiree health insurance plan.

Are you still working or retired? I can help you compare your employer/retiree health insurance benefits with taking Medicare and a Medicare Plan, like a Medicare Supplement “Medigap” or Medicare Advantage “Part C” Plan. It’s important to note that there may be penalties for delaying enrollment in Medicare. Learn more about your options here >> Turning 65 and Still Working?

Signing up for your Medicare Coverage

Suppose you’re collecting any Social Security benefit; you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B upon your 65th birthday. You can expect your Medicare card with your claim number to arrive in the mail about 3-5 months before your birthday month.

If you’re not collecting Social Security in any form, you must sign up via Social Security. You’re NOT signing up for SS benefits, just Medicare. The easiest way to sign up for Medicare coverage is online. The link below takes you directly to the Social Security website, where you can sign up for Medicare Parts A and B.

Medicare Parts A and B Sign-Up Link

If you have questions about whether you’re signed up and when your Medicare coverage will start, contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213. (They’re not helping you with “extra coverage” with your Medicare; instead, this is just the vehicle to sign-up for Medicare Parts A (Hospital 80%) and B (Medical 80%) only.)

Next Steps

Now that you know if you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare or will need to enroll yourself, the next thing to consider is if you want more coverage than the 80% coverage provided by Medicare Parts A and B.

I can help with this!

As an independent Medicare insurance agency since 2010, I’ve helped thousands of people nationwide find the right Medicare Plan. Schedule a quick call with me here >> Phone Call with Chad

When Does Medicare Coverage Start?