How to Apply for Medicare Online: A Step-by-Step Guide

Do you need to apply, or are you signed up automatically?

According to Medicare.gov, if you are getting Social Security (or Railroad Retirement Board) benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you automatically get Part A. You are also signed up for Part B, unless you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S. Because Part B has a monthly premium, you can choose whether to keep it.

You need to sign up yourself if:

• You are turning 65 and not yet getting Social Security benefits
• You have Part A and want to add Part B later, for example after leaving a job with health insurance
• You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), also called permanent kidney failure

People under 65 may also qualify if they get Social Security disability benefits, or have ESRD or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Social Security notes that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not qualify you for Medicare on its own. If you are not sure which program you get, our guide to the difference between SSDI and SSI can help.

The parts of Medicare in plain terms

Social Security handles sign-up for Parts A and B. You choose Parts C and D later, on Medicare.gov.

• Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice. It is free if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.
• Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for doctors, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment and some preventive services. Most people pay a monthly premium.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage) is a private plan that bundles Part A, Part B and usually Part D. You need both Part A and Part B to join one.
• Part D covers prescription drugs through private plans. You need Part A or Part B to join one.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) has no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket. Some people add a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy or join a Medicare Advantage plan to cap their costs.

When to apply

There are three main times to sign up for Part A and Part B.

Initial Enrollment Period (around age 65)

This is your first chance, and there is no penalty for signing up during it. It lasts 7 months: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and the 3 months after.

When your coverage starts depends on when you sign up. Coverage always starts on the first of a month.

If you sign up	Part B coverage starts
Before the month you turn 65	The month you turn 65
The month you turn 65, or in the 3 months after	The month after you sign up

If you qualify for premium-free Part A, it starts the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first of the month, coverage starts the month before.

Signing up early, in the 3 months before your birthday month, is the simplest way to avoid a gap.

Special Enrollment Period (if you had job-based insurance)

If you or your spouse have health insurance through a current job, you can delay Part B without a penalty. Social Security says you can sign up:

• Any time while you are still working and covered by the group health plan
• Within 8 months of the day you or your spouse stop working, even if the plan continues for a while
• Within 8 months of the group health plan ending while you or your spouse keep working

COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as job-based coverage for this rule. Medicare.gov also says that losing COBRA, retiree coverage or Marketplace coverage does not give you a Special Enrollment Period. If you are on COBRA, don't wait for it to end before signing up for Part B.

Medicare.gov lists other Special Enrollment Periods, such as losing Medicaid or being released from incarceration. Most use form CMS-10797, sent to your local Social Security office by fax or mail.

General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31)

If you missed your other chances, you can sign up between January 1 and March 31 each year. Coverage starts the month after you sign up. You will probably pay a late enrollment penalty.

Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7)

During Medicare Open Enrollment, people who already have Medicare can join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans. Changes start January 1. You can't use this window to sign up for Part A or Part B for the first time.

How to apply for Medicare online, step by step

Step 1: Gather your information

Social Security's sign-up page says you will need:

• Your Social Security number
• Where you were born (city, state, country)
• Start and end dates for any current group health plan
• Start and end dates for any group health plan you had after age 65

If you are signing up for Part B only, you also need a valid email address and your Medicare number.

Step 2: Set up a my Social Security account (recommended)

A free my Social Security account lets you manage benefits and requests online. You create it through Login.gov or ID.me. Login.gov asks for an email address, a government-issued photo ID and a phone number.

Step 3: Fill out the application

Go to Sign up for Medicare on ssa.gov and choose "Apply for myself." Social Security says people 65 or older can enroll online for Parts A and B, or for Part A only. Pick Part A only if you have job-based coverage and plan to delay Part B.

If you already have Part A and want to add Part B, use the separate Part B only sign-up.

Step 4: Check your status

After you submit, you can check your application status online. Social Security also has automated phone help at 800-772-1213, 24 hours a day. When you hear "How can I help you today?" say "application status."

If you can't apply online

Call Social Security at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tell the representative you want to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B, or Part A only. You can also ask for an appointment.

If you have ESRD, Social Security asks you to call the same number and tell the representative you want to apply for Medicare because you have ESRD.

After you have Part A and Part B: choosing more coverage

You can compare Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans with the Medicare Plan Finder. If you join a plan before your Part A or Part B starts, the plan starts the same day. If you join after, it starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request.

For free, unbiased help picking a plan, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Medicare.gov says SHIPs are not connected to any insurance company or health plan. You can find yours through Medicare's Talk to someone page.

What Medicare costs in 2026

These are the 2026 amounts listed on Medicare.gov.

Cost	2026 amount
Part A premium	$0 for most people. If you have to buy Part A, $311 or $565 a month, depending on how long you or your spouse worked
Part A hospital deductible	$1,736 for each benefit period
Part B standard premium	$202.90 a month (higher for some people, depending on income)
Part B deductible	$283 a year
Part B coinsurance	Usually 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the deductible
Part D out-of-pocket limit	$2,100 a year

Part D and Medicare Advantage premiums vary by plan.

As of October 2026, Medicare.gov still shows 2026 amounts for Part A and Part B. Medicare announces the next year's amounts each fall, so check Medicare.gov for 2027 figures.

Late enrollment penalties

A late penalty is added to your monthly premium. It is not a one-time fee, and for most people it lasts as long as they have that coverage.

• Part B: 10% extra for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't. Medicare.gov's example: waiting 2 full years means a 20% penalty, so a 2026 premium of $243.50 a month instead of $202.90.
• Part D: 1% of the national base beneficiary premium ($38.99 in 2026) for each month you went without Part D or other creditable drug coverage. It applies if you don't join a drug plan when you first get Medicare, or if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage.
• Part A: only applies if you have to buy Part A. Your premium may go up 10% for twice the number of years you didn't sign up.

You generally won't pay the Part B penalty if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or enroll in a Medicare Savings Program. You won't pay the Part D penalty while you get Extra Help.

Help paying for Medicare if your income is low

Two programs can lower your costs a lot. To see what else you may qualify for, try our benefit finder.

Medicare Savings Programs

These state-run programs help pay Medicare premiums, and some also pay deductibles, coinsurance and copays. You apply through your state Medicaid office, and the state decides which program you qualify for. Medicare.gov says to apply even if you don't think you qualify, because some states use higher limits or don't count certain income.

Federal monthly income limits for 2026 (limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii):

Program	What it helps pay	Individual	Married couple
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)	Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays	$1,350	$1,824
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)	Part B premium	$1,616	$2,184
Qualifying Individual (QI)	Part B premium	$1,816	$2,455

The 2026 resource limit for these three programs is $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a married couple. QI is first-come, first-served, and you must apply every year. A fourth program, Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI), helps some working people with disabilities pay the Part A premium.

If you also might qualify for full Medicaid, see our guide on how to enroll in Medicaid.

Extra Help with drug costs

Extra Help is a Medicare program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. You get it automatically if you have full Medicaid, get help from a Medicare Savings Program, or get SSI. Otherwise, you can apply for Extra Help on ssa.gov at any time, before or after you join a Part D plan.

The 2026 limits on Medicare.gov are:

	Income limit	Resource limit
Individual	$23,940	$18,090
Married couple	$32,460	$36,100

For 2027, Medicare.gov says people with Extra Help will pay a $0 plan premium and $0 deductible, up to $5.80 for each generic drug and up to $14.40 for each brand-name drug. When you apply for Extra Help, Social Security sends your information to your state to start a Medicare Savings Program application, unless you tell them not to.

Common mistakes that cost people money

• Counting COBRA or retiree coverage as job-based coverage. Neither one protects you from the Part B penalty.
• Skipping drug coverage because you take no medications now. If you have no other creditable drug coverage, the Part D penalty grows each month.
• Waiting for Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7) to sign up for Part A and Part B. That window is for joining or changing plans.
• Not applying for a Medicare Savings Program because you assume your income is too high. Your state may use higher limits.

If Social Security denies your application

Social Security will send a letter explaining its decision. If you disagree, you can ask for reconsideration. Social Security says to submit the request within 60 days of getting the decision. You can request reconsideration online or call 800-772-1213. A SHIP counselor can also help with appeals for free.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to apply for Medicare?

No. Signing up through Social Security is free. Ignore anyone who offers to enroll you in Part A or Part B for a fee.

Can I apply for Medicare online before I turn 65?

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, and signing up then means Part B starts the month you turn 65. If the online application won't let you finish, call Social Security at 800-772-1213.

Do I have to sign up for Part B if I'm still working?

Not if you or your spouse have health insurance through a current job. You can take Part A only and add Part B later during a Special Enrollment Period, within 8 months of the job or the coverage ending.

Where do I sign up for Medicare Advantage or a drug plan?

On Medicare.gov, not through Social Security. Use the Medicare Plan Finder, contact the plan, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Can I get help with my Part B premium?

Yes, if your income and resources are limited. A Medicare Savings Program from your state can pay your Part B premium, and some people qualify even with income above the federal limits.

Sources

• Sign up for Medicare, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• When to sign up for Medicare, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• Parts of Medicare, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• my Social Security, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• Check application or appeal status, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• Request reconsideration, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program, Social Security Administration, accessed October 2026
• How do I sign up for Medicare?, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• When does Medicare coverage start?, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• Joining a plan, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• Costs, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• Avoid late enrollment penalties, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• Help with drug costs, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026
• Contact Medicare, Medicare.gov (CMS), accessed October 2026