Sign Up for Medicare and Estimate Medicare Costs
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 16, 2021
Affordable medical coverage is something everyone wants, especially as people age. Luckily, our nation has safeguards for workers as they get older. Millions of people rely on Medicare, and it can be part of your health insurance plan when you retire.
Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, as well as younger people who have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, and people with certain specific diseases. Two parts of Medicare are Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medicare Insurance). You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Part B usually requires a monthly premium payment.
You can apply online for Medicare even if you are not ready to retire. Use our online application to sign up. It takes less than 10 minutes. In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if we need more information. Otherwise, you’ll receive your Medicare card in the mail.
You can sign up for Medicare on our website.
If you don’t sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment window that begins three months before the birthday that you reach age 65 and ends three months after that birthday, you’ll face a 10 percent increase in your Part B premiums for every year-long period you’re eligible for coverage but don’t enroll. You may not have to pay the penalty if you qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP). If you are 65 or older and covered under a group health plan, either from your own or your spouse’s current employment, you may have a special enrollment period during which you can sign up for Medicare Part B. This means that you may delay enrolling in Part B without having to wait for a general enrollment period and without paying the lifetime penalty for late enrollment. Additional rules and limits apply, so if you think a special enrollment period may apply to you, read our Medicare publication, and visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for more information.
Health and drug costs not covered by Medicare can have a big impact on how much you spend each year. You can also estimate Medicare costs using an online tool.
Keeping your healthcare costs down allows you to use your retirement income on other things that you can enjoy. Social Security is here to help you plan a long and happy retirement. Visit our website today.
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About the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Comments
Comments are closed.
Werner F.
Where are the estimated cost?
Jenniejohnson360@gmail.com.
My name is jennie s. johnson. I wiil retire on. 11/16/19. Last day of work is 11/15/19.
I need my medicare to start ASAP which shoud start effective 11/01/19. I am currently receiving social security benefits under my late husband “claim number *** – ** – ***.” Please call me @ 480-432-3196 or email me at Jenniejohnson360@gmail.com. my social is *** – ** – ***. When will i receive my new card? My medicare card number is 4J25EW5XP82. Please vedify that you received this email. Call me if you need more information. My work number until 11/15/ 19 is 602-712-7129 @ 5:00 p.m. thank you.
Mary
While you are at it, you might want to get a different email, phone number and Medicare number. This site is available for all to see. Please be careful before sharing all those confidential numbers. Hoping admin will edit your numbers out of your post.
L.A.
Hi Jennie. Thank you for your question. If you have not enrollment in Medicare yet, you can do so right now. When you apply for Medicare, you can sign up for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down. However, if you decide to enroll in Part B later on, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Your monthly premium will go up 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but didn’t sign up for it, unless you qualify for a “Special Enrollment Period.” You may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to find out how to sign up for Medicare. You may also visit your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Wasim M.
Hi Ms Darlynda Bogle;
My SS# xxx-xx-0204, DOB 05/10/1953.
On retirement on 05/10/2018, I signed for Medicare Part A, but could not afford to get Part B & D., in my monthly income, of SS $722 & NC statement Retirement $587 monthly total $1,309.00, my wife is household, age 58.
At this stage, recently I tried to contact SS, Medicare/Medicaid phone numbers to find out how to get help to pay premium & deductible, but I was given another number to contact, but so far all in vain. Kindly refer me to me to exact person who can help and guide me how I should proceed. I need medical follow up and medicines to overcome my blood pressure and other problems.
Looking forward hearing from you,
Thanks
Wasim M Rana
919-302-5954 cell
1031 Lake Moraine Pl
Raleigh, NC 27607
L.A.
Hi Wasim. To get information about assistance for your Medicare monthly premiums, please contact your state or local social services or welfare office. You should also contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator) to discuss your health insurance options. We hope this helps.
ania
(Yikes…there are two comments under this post alone in which unwitting people’s have proffered multiple pieces of private information – no doubt they misunderstood, and expected it to be delivered only to SSA’s email account. As part of the agency’s strongly stated push to protect an especially vulnerable demographic from falling prey to scams or giving their information out to suspect or predatory individuals, I would think that a priority of this blog would be to either moderate comments prior to posting, or to delete immediately upon recognition. There also needs to be a highly-visible statement exhorting individuals not to post such details in their comments, briefly stating that they will become public to the entire Internet. Please find a way to implement this necessary component. )
ania
Correction: “….unwitting *people* have proffered….”
Linda B.
What is the cost of medicare for 2020?
Lynned
Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles for outpatient care will increase in 2020. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the new 2020 rates Friday. For about 70% of Medicare beneficiaries, the premiums will rise nearly 7% to $144.60 a month, up from $135.50 in 2019
Mary
So sad they have to overcharge. Still they base mine on income from 2 years ago and I don’t make nearly that anymore so it digs into cost of living. Am hoping they give a rebate for the error. Someone said you have to fill out a form to get them to correct it, not sure why, wasn’t my policy. Because of excessive premiums, I am less likely to use Medicare until years later, if at all. In the meantime others get help off the excessive fees that I pay. I already paid taxes and don’t understand the excessive surcharge based on something I don’t currently earn. I would like it better if it was fair for all. Maybe some day the glitches will be fixed.
L.A.
Hi Linda. You can find the cost of the Medicare premiums for 2020 here. We hope this helps.
Mary D.
I have medicare A & B already. Do I need a supplemental health plan
L.A.
Hi Mary. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. To get additional information on Medicare premium payments, please visit Medicare’s internet page. You may also contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator) to discuss your options. We hope this helps.
Sean J.
Come Jan 12 2020 I will be 76 years of age. At the moment I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage plan. I would appreciate if you could give me some information about switching to original Medicare.
Thanking you
L.A.
Hi Sean. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. To get additional information on Medicare premium payments, please visit Medicare internet page. You may also contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator) to discuss your options. We hope this helps.
Marleen
How long do I have to pay $433.00 a month for Part B? I retired 1 year ago on February – same for my spouse. We don’t work any longer – we could use the additional money id we only had to pay the $135.00 each.
L.A.
Hi Marleen. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. To get additional information on Medicare premium payments, please visit Medicare’s internet page. You may also contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator) to discuss your options. We hope this helps.
Joe
You teally need to fix Medicare for pekple who get $10 ovrr the Medicaid limot
Disabled folks don’t have money for insursnce, food and rent.
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