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SSA.gov is a great source of Medicare information, and it’s the place to apply online for Medicare benefits. Learn more about navigating the Social Security Administration site.
SSA.gov is the place to go to apply online for Medicare and to learn more about Medicare enrollment.
This guide can help you learn how to navigate the website from the Social Security Administration so that you can find information about Medicare benefits and enroll in Medicare.
As the official website for the Social Security Administration, there is plenty of information on SSA.gov that encompasses everything from retirement to how to enroll in Medicare.
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There are two primary ways to navigate to the site’s information on Medicare:
Once you have found the Medicare portal of SSA.gov, you’ll see the page broken down into multiple sections, each separated by headlines as follows:
On the right side of the page, you’ll see a section titled “Related Information.”
This is where you can find additional Medicare information, such as Medicare premiums for higher income earners, Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) enrollment information, Medicare benefits for military service members and more.
If you wish to enroll in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) before collecting Social Security retirement benefits, you may do so online here.
You may also call or visit your local Social Security office, although the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the operations of many local offices.
Once you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, you may then consider enrolling in a private Medicare insurance plan like a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Most baby boomers need to wait until they are 66 or 67 to claim Social Security in order to get their full retirement benefits, but eligibility for Medicare typically begins at age 65 for many Americans. If you wait until age 66 or later before you collect Social Security, you may need to enroll in Medicare separately.
Those who are 65 years old and collecting Social Security for at least four months are often automatically enrolled in Original Medicare.
But if you are not collecting Social Security benefits by age 65, you will not typically be automatically enrolled in Medicare, so you will have to be proactive about taking the proper steps to sign up for Medicare.
If you delay your Medicare enrollment until you collect full Social Security benefits at age 66, you may face late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part B once you finally do enroll. You may also have to pay a Part D late enrollment fee each month if you go more than 60 days without creditable prescription drug coverage.
These late enrollment penalties will be tacked onto your monthly Medicare Part B and/or Part D premiums for as long as you are enrolled.
Even if you are not receiving Social Security benefits at age 65, you may typically still be granted the same Medicare enrollment window as those who are receiving Social Security retirement benefits at age 65.
This window is called your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period, and it begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month of your birthday and continues for an additional three months for a total of seven months.
If you wait until after your 65th birthday to enroll in Medicare, however, your Part B coverage may be delayed. You may have to pay the Part B late enrollment penalty outlined above if you enroll well after your Initial Enrollment Period ends.
Many Americans who collect Social Security retirement benefits typically have their Medicare Part B monthly premium deducted directly from their Social Security check and do not have to take any action to pay their Medicare bill.
If you don’t receive a monthly Social Security benefits check, you will most likely be sent a bill in the mail for your Part B premiums. In 2024, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $174.70 per month for most beneficiaries.
Most people do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A.
While the range of Medicare information on SSA.gov can be helpful, you may find the answers you need by speaking with someone over the phone.
Fortunately, there are several options for learning more about Medicare:
You can also get help with your Medicare questions by speaking with a licensed insurance agent. Learn more about Medicare plan options that are available where you live, the benefits they offer and how much the plans may cost you.
To get started, call to speak to a licensed insurance agent today.
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Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
..Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
By clicking "Sign me up!” you are agreeing to receive emails from MedicareAdvantage.com.
Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
If you'd like to speak with an agent right away, we're standing by for that as well. Give us a call!
LICENSED AGENTS AVAILABLE NOW
