Last month I talked about when to sign up for Medicare. As I mentioned, it all depends on your current coverage, your future plans, etc.
This month I thought we would talk about how to sign up. This can be a bit complicated (after all it’s the government) but I will try and just cover the basics.
If you are receiving Social Security benefits or disability benefits prior to your 65th birthday, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65.
If you don’t want Medicare at this time, you will need to call Medicare and let them know. This is the only situation where you are automatically enrolled.
If you are not receiving Social Security benefits prior to your 65th birthday, you will need to apply for Medicare. You can do this one of four ways:
- Online at ssa.gov. This is the easiest and fastest way if you are comfortable with a computer. You’ll need to create your secure My Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits.
- You can call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 and enroll over the phone. Generally, you will have about a 30-minute wait.
- Make an appointment and go to a local Social Security office. To make an appointment you can call (800) 772-1213. The website currently states you can go without an appointment but expect long lines.
- Mail or fax in an application. If you want help with any of these options, I am more than willing to assist you. Unfortunately, this can be overwhelming to some people, so feel free to reach out for help.
As always, please call me to make an appointment if you are about to enter the Medicare world or have questions about your situation. I would love to be your guide.
Please call Lynne Jones, licensed sales representative at (480) 212-2246, or email me at jonesdvp@yahoo.com