If you aren’t automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, you will need to manually enroll. The sign-up process starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and lasts until 3 months after your birthday.

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Medicare is the U.S. health insurance program for people 65 years old or older or with certain health conditions. Applying for Medicare can seem like a rite of passage or a benchmark in a lifetime.

But signing up for Medicare can also feel complicated. That’s because it has several parts, and you need to remember a few deadlines and enrollment periods. Plus, some people are automatically enrolled, while others are not.

Actually, the process is relatively streamlined and easy to maneuver. Here’s a breakdown of how to apply for the various parts of Medicare and when you need to begin.

If you’re receiving benefits from the SSA or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you don’t have to apply for Medicare. You’ll automatically be signed up for Medicare parts A and B as you near your 65th birthday.

Your Medicare card and enrollment information will be mailed to you 3 to 4 months before your birthday. But if you’d like to enroll in Part D or want to switch to Medicare Advantage (Part C), you can do this during your initial enrollment period. We’ll explain more about that later.

If you’re not automatically enrolled, you’ll need to apply for Original Medicare (parts A and B) and any additional coverage you want. Your enrollment period will depend on several factors, including your employment status and the types of coverage you want.

How to enroll in Original Medicare

Before you begin the process of enrolling in Medicare parts A and B, you might consider what kind of Medicare coverage you ultimately need. These steps will help you prepare:

  1. Find out if you were automatically enrolled in either Part A or Part B of Original Medicare.
  2. Decide whether you want Part B or if you’d like to defer enrollment.
  3. Review the Medicare Advantage plans in your area to see if those coverage options and costs work better for you than Original Medicare.
  4. If you stay with Original Medicare, consider your Part D options and whether a Medigap plan would benefit you.

The SSA provides a checklist for Medicare applications that may be helpful. It lists the records you’ll need for the process, including proof of military service, tax forms, and W-2s. Once you have all the information you need to apply, you can begin the process of signing up.

You have several ways to enroll in Original Medicare:

  • Online: You can visit SocialSecurity.gov to begin enrollment.
  • By phone: Call SSA at 800-772-1213 (or 800-325-0718 for TTY), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • In person: Visit your local SSA office; you can find it through the SSA office locator.
  • By mail: You can send a letter to your local SSA office with your name, Social Security number, and the date you’d like to enroll. They will send you the necessary information and any additional enrollment requests.

If you already receive benefits from SSA or RRB, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare. If you have questions or want to discuss your coverage, you can call RRB at 877-772-5772 (or 312-751-4701 for TTY), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

How to enroll in Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, is a private bundled health insurance plan. It offers the same coverage as parts A and B. It often provides prescription coverage as well. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover vision, dental, and other healthcare benefits.

This plan may place a yearly cap on your out-of-pocket costs. That can be helpful if you expect to have any significant healthcare expenses.

But a Medicare Advantage plan will be an additional cost on top of any premiums you pay for other parts of Medicare. Many Medicare Advantage plans will cover some or all of your Medicare Part B premium costs. Weigh your healthcare needs with the costs of coverage when deciding which parts of Medicare are right for you.

If you want to enroll in Medicare Advantage, you can sign up during your initial enrollment period. You can also change your selections during Medicare’s open enrollment period from October 15 through December 7. If you sign up outside these times, you may pay a late enrollment fee, and your coverage won’t begin until July 1.

You have two ways to sign up for Medicare Part C:

  • Online: Shop for Part C plans with Medicare.gov’s plan finder tool.
  • With a private company: Insurance companies offer Part C plans, and you can enroll directly with them via their website or by phone.

How to enroll in Medicare Part D

Enrollment in Medicare Part D is not automatic for anyone. If you want prescription drug coverage, you’ll need to select and purchase a Medicare Part D plan.

It’s important to note that you need to sign up for a Part D plan as an add-on to Original Medicare (parts A and B). Since Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include drug coverage, you don’t need to enroll separately for drug coverage if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.

You can enroll in Medicare Part D during your initial enrollment period, a 7-month window around your 65th birthday. If you don’t enroll during that time, you can sign up later but may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

You may also be able to enroll during the open enrollment period, which is from October 15 through December 7.

If you want to enroll in Medicare Part D, you have several ways to do so:

  • By phone: You can call 800-633-4227 (or 877-486-2048 for TTY).
  • Online: Use Medicare.gov’s plan finder tool to compare Part D plans available in your area.
  • Contact a private insurance company: You can also contact private insurers that offer Part D plans via their website or by phone and enroll directly with them.

The Medicare application on the Social Security website allows you to apply completely online. In most cases, you won’t need to sign anything or send in any supporting documents.

You can apply for Medicare online by visiting the Medicare section of the Social Security website.

The application is completely free. Once you apply, you’ll be able to check on the status of your application at any time.

How can I check on my Medicare application?

If you applied for Medicare online, you can check the status of your application through your Medicare or Social Security account.

You can also check on your enrollment on Medicare.gov. You’ll be able to find information about your enrollment status by entering your:

  • ZIP code
  • Medicare number
  • last name
  • date of birth
  • Medicare Part A effective date

You can also check the status of your application by visiting or calling your local SSA office.

If you’re planning to enroll in Medicare, you’ll need to know several enrollment deadlines and dates:

  • Initial enrollment period: This is a 7-month window around your 65th birthday, during which you can sign up for Medicare. It begins 3 months before your birthday, includes the month of your birthday, and extends 3 months after your birthday. During this time, you can enroll for all parts of Medicare without a penalty.
  • Open enrollment period: Medicare’s open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. During this window, you can switch from Original Medicare to Part C, or from Part C back to Original Medicare. You can also switch Part C plans or add, remove, or change a Part D plan.
  • General enrollment period: This enrollment period runs yearly from January 1 through March 31. If you did not enroll during your initial enrollment period, you can enroll in Medicare during this timeframe.
  • Special enrollment period: If you delayed Medicare enrollment because you had private health insurance from an employer, you can later enroll in Medicare during a special enrollment period. You have 8 months from the end of your coverage or employment to sign up without penalty.

Medicare Advantage also has a separate open enrollment period that runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. During this time, you can switch from one Part C plan to another or go back to Original Medicare. But you can’t go from Original Medicare to Part C during this period.

Your healthcare needs may change as you age, so make sure your Medicare coverage changes with you.

Where can I get more help?

You don’t have to go through the enrollment process alone. Medicare and the SSA provide a number of free resources for people looking to sign up for Medicare, including:

Several other enrollment counseling programs are available, but they may charge a fee. Ask about any upfront costs before you agree to pay for this type of help. Free resources are available from the organizations above.

Applying for Medicare is an important step as you near your 65th birthday. It can also be filled with questions — but you don’t have to enroll alone.

Both the CMS and the SSA can be valuable resources during your enrollment period. They can help you make the right choices for your situation.