Enrolling for Medicare online is easy and convenient. Enrollment through both the Medicare.gov and Social Security Administration (SSA) websites is possible depending on the part in which you are enrolling. The Medicare online enrollment procedure is also dependent on your disability status.

The most important factor pertaining to Medicare enrollment involves signing up during the designated enrollment periods as established each year.

Four main enrollment periods exist each year.

It is especially important to sign up for Medicare Parts B and D during eligible enrollment periods to avoid late-enrollment penalties.

The four main enrollment periods are:

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Starts seven months prior to your sixty-fifth birthday & extends for three months beyond it.

• General Enrollment: Established for Medicare Advantage/extended coverage plans; held from January 1 to March 31 each year.

• Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Established for people who miss an IEP because they already own private health insurance; held from February 15 to May 15 each year.

• Open Enrollment: The main general enrollment period; established for making changes to existing Medicare plans & adding new plans; held from October 15 to December 7 each year. 

• Medicare enrollees under age 65 are required to have a verified account with the SSA prior to enrolling in Medicare.

SSDI benefits recipients under age 65 are required to provide all SSDI verification and documentation as well. Direct all additional questions about enrolling in Medicare online when under age 65 to your local Social Security office by calling 1 (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting the office in person. COVID-19-based closings might affect representative availability.