When to Register for Medicare: Timing and Deadlines That Matter

Register for Medicare at 65, or Earlier If You Get Disability or ESRD

You become may be able to access for Medicare the month you turn 65, regardless of whether you are still working. If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), you may become may be able to access before 65. The key is understanding your own situation and the important date that explore to it, because missing them can cost you in penalties and coverage gaps.

Most people do not have to take action on a specific date—Social Security will contact you automatically about three months before your 65th birthday. But if you are still working, covered by an employer plan, or unsure about your status, you need to know the rules that protect you from late-enrollment penalties.

Key Takeaways

You become may be able to access for Medicare the month you turn 65, and Social Security will contact you about three months before that date.
If you are covered by an active employer health plan and still working, you can delay Part B without penalty as long as you enroll within eight months of leaving that job or losing coverage.
If you receive SSDI, you become may be able to access for Medicare automatically 24 months after your disability began, with no action required on your part.
Missing the important date to enroll in Part B when you should have costs you 10 percent more per month for each year you were late, for as long as you have Medicare.
The Initial Enrollment Period runs from three months before your 65th birthday through three months after, giving you a seven-month window to register.

The Initial Enrollment Period: Your Seven-Month Window

Your Initial Enrollment Period is the window when you can register for Medicare without penalty. It runs for seven months: three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and three months after. For example, if you turn 65 in June, your period runs from March through September.

You do not have to enroll on the first day. You can register anytime during those seven months and your coverage will begin on the first day of the month you turn 65 (or the first day of the month after you enroll, whichever is later). Most people enroll during the three months before their birthday, when Social Security sends them information and a notice that they can register online.

If you miss this window entirely, you can still register later, but you will owe a permanent penalty on Part B premiums unless you have a may have access to reason for the delay.

Working Past 65: When You Can Delay Part B

If you are still working and covered by your employer's health plan, you do not have to enroll in Part B at 65. You can delay Part B enrollment without penalty as long as you are covered by an active group health plan through your employer (or your spouse's employer). This protection is called the Special Enrollment Period for group health plan coverage.

The rule is this: you have eight months from the date you lose your employer coverage or stop working to enroll in Part B without penalty. If you leave your job in September, you have until the end of April to register. If you delay longer than that, you will pay a 10 percent penalty on your Part B premium for each year you were late—and that penalty stays with you permanently.

You still need to enroll in Part A (hospital insurance) at 65 even if you delay Part B, unless you are still working and covered by an employer plan. Part A has no premium for most people, so there is no penalty for late enrollment, but signing up keeps your records current.

SSDI Recipients: Automatic Enrollment After 24 Months

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance, you become may be able to access for Medicare automatically 24 months after your disability began. You do not need to register or take any action. Social Security will send you a notice about two months before your coverage begins, and Medicare Part A and Part B will start on the first day of the 25th month of your disability.

You can still choose to delay Part B if you are covered by an employer plan, using the same eight-month rule that applies to people turning 65. But if you do not have employer coverage, Part B will start automatically, and you will be charged a premium. If you want to decline Part B, you must contact Social Security in writing before your coverage begins.

ESRD and Dialysis: Different Rules for Kidney Disease

If you have end-stage renal disease and need dialysis or a kidney transplant, you become may be able to access for Medicare regardless of age. Your may be able to access begins the month your dialysis treatments start, or the month you have a kidney transplant, whichever comes first. You do not have to be 65.

You have a different enrollment window: you can register anytime during the month you become may be able to access, or up to 12 months after that month ends, without penalty. If you delay longer than 12 months, you will owe a late-enrollment penalty on Part B. Unlike the age-65 rules, your employer coverage does not protect you from this penalty—the ESRD important date applies regardless of whether you have other insurance.

What Happens If You Miss the important date

If you do not enroll in Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period and you do not have a may have access to reason for the delay, you will owe a late-enrollment penalty. The penalty is 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for each full year you were late. If the standard premium is $165 per month and you were two years late, your penalty would be 20 percent, or about $33 extra per month, added to your premium for life.

The penalty applies only if you did not have may have access to coverage (like an active employer plan) during the months you were late. If you were covered by an employer plan the whole time, you can enroll within eight months of losing that coverage without penalty. If you had other may have access to coverage—such as TRICARE, Veterans benefits, or certain types of retiree coverage—you may also be protected.

There is no way to remove the penalty once it is applied, so the cost of missing the important date is permanent. This is why it matters to know your own situation and your own important date.

How to Register: Online, by Phone, or In Person

You can register for Medicare through Social Security, not through Medicare directly. The easiest way is online at ssa.gov. You can create a my Social Security account and explore for Medicare through your account dashboard. The process takes about 10 minutes if you have your information ready.

You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to register by phone. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and information about any employer coverage ready. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you may be able to register online without calling.

If you prefer to register in person, you can visit your local Social Security office. Bring your Social Security card, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and proof of age. You can find your local office at ssa.gov/locator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I turn 65 but I am still working and do not want Medicare yet?

You can delay Part B if you are covered by your employer's health plan. You have eight months after you leave that job to enroll without penalty. You should still enroll in Part A at 65 because it has no premium and keeps your record current. If you do not enroll in Part B when you should have, the penalty will follow you permanently.

Do I have to enroll in Part A if I do not want Part B?

If you are 65 and may be able to access, you can enroll in Part A alone without Part B. Part A covers hospital stays and has no premium for most people. Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care and has a monthly premium. You can have one without the other, though most people eventually enroll in both.

What counts as may have access to coverage that lets me delay Part B?

Active employer health insurance (through your job or your spouse's job) is the most common may have access to coverage. TRICARE, Veterans benefits, some retiree plans, and certain types of group coverage also count. Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, or individual marketplace plans do not count—if you have those, you should enroll in Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period.

If I am on disability and turn 65, do I need to do anything?

No. Your Medicare coverage will continue automatically. You were already enrolled when you became may be able to access 24 months after your disability began. Your coverage straightforward continues when you turn 65 with no action needed on your part.

Can I enroll in Medicare before I turn 65?

You can enroll starting three months before you turn 65. You cannot enroll earlier than that unless you are on SSDI (may be able to access 24 months after disability began) or have ESRD. If you try to enroll before your may be able to access date, Social Security will hold your process and process it when you become may be able to access.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.