You must be 65 years old to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B

Medicare may be able to access begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65, or the month after your 65th birthday, depending on when you were born. You do not automatically receive Medicare at 65 — you must enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, which runs for seven months: three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and three months after.

If you do not enroll when you first become may be able to access, you may face a permanent penalty on your premiums. The penalty is 10 percent of the Part B premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but did not enroll. This penalty stays with you for life, so timing your enrollment correctly matters.

There are exceptions to the 65-year-old rule. Some people under 65 can enroll in Medicare if they have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, or if they have end-stage renal disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). These situations are rare and have their own enrollment rules.

Key Takeaways

  • You become may be able to access for Medicare on the first day of the month you turn 65, but you must enroll during your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period to avoid penalties.
  • If you delay enrolling in Part B after age 65 without a valid reason, you will pay a 10 percent premium penalty for each year you waited, and this penalty is permanent.
  • You can enroll before you turn 65 if you have been receiving SSDI for 24 months, have end-stage renal disease, or have ALS.
  • Your enrollment window opens three months before the month you turn 65 and closes three months after, giving you a total of seven months to sign up.

When your Initial Enrollment Period begins and ends

Your Initial Enrollment Period is a fixed seven-month window. If you turn 65 in June, your enrollment period runs from March through September. You can enroll online through Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, by mail, or in person at your local Social Security office.

The month you enroll determines when your coverage starts. If you enroll during the three months before you turn 65, your Part A and Part B coverage begins the month you turn 65. If you enroll in the month you turn 65 or after, your coverage typically begins the first day of the following month.

Missing this window does not lock you out of Medicare forever, but it does trigger the late-enrollment penalty. You can still enroll during the General Enrollment Period, which runs January 1 through March 31 each year, but your coverage will not start until July 1 of that year.

Why you should enroll even if you are still working

If you are still employed at 65 and have health coverage through your job, you might assume you can skip Medicare. This is a common mistake. You should still enroll in Part A (hospital insurance) at 65, even if you do not enroll in Part B, because Part A has no premium if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

Part B is different. If your employer has 20 or more employees and you have group health coverage through that job, you can delay Part B enrollment without penalty. This is called having creditable coverage. You will need to show proof of this coverage when you do enroll in Part B later, so keep your employer's plan documents.

If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, the rules change. You should enroll in Part B at 65 even while working, because you will face a penalty if you delay. Ask your employer's benefits department how many employees the company has before you decide to wait.

What happens if you miss your enrollment window

If you do not enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period and you do not have creditable coverage through an employer, you will pay a late-enrollment penalty on Part B. The penalty is 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for each full 12 months you were may be able to access but not enrolled. If the standard premium is $165 per month and you waited three years, your penalty would be 30 percent, raising your premium to $214.50 per month for life.

Part D (prescription drug coverage) has a similar penalty. If you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage, you will pay a penalty when you enroll. The penalty is based on the number of months you were without coverage.

You can still enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31), but your coverage will not start until July 1. This gap in coverage can be costly if you need medical care in the meantime.

Medicare coverage types and what each includes

Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health services. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you have not, you may pay a premium.

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient services, medical equipment, and preventive care. Part B has a monthly premium, which changes each year. In 2024, the standard premium is $165 per month, but higher-income beneficiaries pay more.

Part D covers prescription drugs. You enroll in a Part D plan run by a private insurance company, not Medicare directly. You must enroll in Part D when you first become may be able to access or pay a late-enrollment penalty.

Part C (Medicare Advantage) is an alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). It is run by private insurance companies and often includes Part D drug coverage. If you choose Part C, you still need Part A and Part B, but you receive them through the private plan instead of directly from Medicare.

Special enrollment periods if you miss the important date

If you have a may have access to life event, you may be able to enroll outside your Initial Enrollment Period without penalty. may have access to events include losing employer coverage, moving out of your plan's service area, or experiencing a change in your family status.

Losing employer coverage is the most common reason for a Special Enrollment Period. If your employer's health plan ends or you lose your job, you have eight months from the date coverage ends to enroll in Medicare Part B without penalty. Keep documentation of when your coverage ended.

If you believe you have a may have access to event, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to discuss your situation. They can tell you whether you are may be able to access for a Special Enrollment Period and how long you have to enroll.

How to enroll when you turn 65

You have four ways to enroll: online, by phone, by mail, or in person. The fastest method is online through Medicare.gov. You will need your Social Security number, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and information about any current health coverage.

If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, Medicare will contact you automatically about three months before you turn 65. You can accept the automatic enrollment or make changes to your coverage choices.

If you are not yet receiving Social Security, you must enroll in Medicare separately. You can do this at your local Social Security office, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or online at Medicare.gov. Have your birth certificate, proof of citizenship, and information about your current health coverage ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enroll in Medicare before I turn 65?

You can enroll up to three months before you turn 65, during your Initial Enrollment Period. Your coverage will begin the month you turn 65. If you have SSDI, end-stage renal disease, or ALS, you may be able to enroll before 65 under different rules.

What if I am still working at 65 and have health insurance through my job?

You should enroll in Part A at 65 because it has no premium. For Part B, check whether your employer has 20 or more employees. If yes, you can delay Part B without penalty. If no, enroll in Part B at 65 to avoid a permanent penalty.

What is the penalty for enrolling late in Medicare?

The Part B late-enrollment penalty is 10 percent of the standard premium for each full 12 months you were may be able to access but not enrolled. This penalty is permanent and stays on your premium for life. Part D has a similar penalty based on months without creditable drug coverage.

Can I enroll in Medicare after I turn 65 without a penalty?

You can enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31) any year, but you will pay a late-enrollment penalty unless you had creditable coverage through an employer or a may have access to life event. Coverage through General Enrollment does not start until July 1.

What happens if I do not enroll in Part D when I turn 65?

If you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 days or more, you will pay a late-enrollment penalty when you enroll in Part D. The penalty is based on how many months you were without coverage and is added to your Part D premium permanently.