Medicare is a government national health insurance program in the United States for people 65 years of age and older that began in 1965 under the administration of the Social Security Administration. So, it stands to reason that if you’ve already started receiving Social Security benefits, you can assume the Medicare benefits will come automatically.
It is important to understand that Medicare and Social Security are separate programs. Medicare today is still a federal health insurance program that provides coverage to people over 65 but also covers young people with disabilities. On the other hand, Social Security is a program that provides financial assistance to retired workers, disabled workers, and their families.
Although Medicare was originally tied directly to Social Security, it is now administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Sign up for Social Security with Medicare
It is important to note that if you receive Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B when you are eligible. However, you’ll have to sign up for Medicare if you don’t get Social Security benefits.
The answer is “sometimes.” Whether you automatically get Medicare and Social Security depends on your age and why you get Social Security benefits. Here are four common scenarios:
- If you turn 65 and receive Social Security retirement benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance) when you are eligible.
- If you’re under 65 and receiving Social Security disability benefits, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B after receiving disability benefits for 24 months.
- If you get Social Security benefits based on a family member’s work record — like a spouse or parent — you’ll need to apply for Medicare yourself, but you must wait until just before your first birthday. his 65th. We’ll dive into subscriptions below.
- If you’re over 65 but don’t receive Social Security benefits, you can still sign up for Medicare.
>>> Read: What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?
What If I Am Under 65?
Remember, just because you get Social Security benefits doesn’t mean you’re eligible for Medicare! While you can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, most don’t qualify for Medicare until they turn 65. Many individuals can get Social Security without having Medicare for several years.
If I am not automatically enrolled in Medicare, when can I enroll?
Let’s say you’re in a group that isn’t automatically enrolled in Medicare but wants Medicare coverage. You will need to specify the Initial Enrollment Period.
Each Medicare beneficiary’s Initial Enrollment Period is unique because it depends on your 65th birthday. You can initially sign up for Medicare for seven months, starting three months before you turn 65. So, for example, if you turn 65 on July 4, Time Your initial subscription begins on April 1 and ends on October 31 for seven months.
If I miss my initial enrollment period, can I still sign up for Medicare?
Let’s say you miss your unique Initial Subscription deadline. In that case, you’ll have to wait for the Universal Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B. The General Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31 of each year. When you sign up for Medicare during the GEP period, your benefits begin on the first day of the month after you sign up.
What happens if I miss the Medicare General Enrollment Period?
