To apply for Medicare, you will need your Social Security number, proof of age (birth certificate), and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency (such as a passport or green card). If employed, bring W-2 forms and details on current employer coverage, along with military records if applicable. Most documents should be originals or certified copies.
Medicare documentation requires detailed, legible records supporting medical necessity for billed services, including patient info, encounter details (history, exam, assessment, plan), provider identity, date, and signatures, with specific elements for therapy (eval, POC, notes, progress, discharge) and E/M services, all accessible within two days if requested by a Medicare contractor to avoid claim denials.
Here are some of the biggest Medicare mistakes to avoid:
Online (at Social Security) – It's the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. (You'll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits.) Contact your local Social Security office.
Visit your local Social Security office.
Security office to enroll in Medicare, you should make an appointment. Appointments are strongly recommended so that you can avoid delays and waiting in line. Call Social Security at 800-772-1213 to make an appointment at your local office.
Generally, you're first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. (You may be eligible for Medicare earlier, if you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.)
Medicare Part B premiums are automatically deducted from Social Security checks, with the standard monthly amount for 2026 being $202.90, but this amount increases for higher-income earners. Most people get Part A for free, but if you pay premiums, they're also deducted. Part D (prescription drug) premiums can also be optionally deducted, while Part C (Medicare Advantage) premiums vary.
The first step in signing up for Medicare, if you aren't automatically enrolled, is usually to determine your eligibility and enrollment period (Initial Enrollment Period - IEP) and then apply for Original Medicare (Parts A & B) through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website (ssa.gov), either online, by phone, or in person, by creating a "My Social Security" account to start your application.
The best people to talk to about Medicare are your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) (for free, unbiased advice) or your specific Medicare plan's customer service (for plan-specific questions). For enrollment, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA), while independent brokers can compare plans, and organizations like the NCOA or AARP offer resources and tools.
The Medicare "3-Day Rule" requires a beneficiary to have a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay (admission day counts, discharge day doesn't) before Medicare will cover services in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) for rehabilitation or skilled care, though this rule can be waived in certain Medicare Advantage plans or through specific Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives. Time spent in observation or the Emergency Department doesn't count towards these 3 days, but new demonstration projects and waivers are emerging to offer more flexibility for patients needing SNF care.
Yes, you can call your local Social Security office to apply for Medicare, but you can also apply online at Social Security (SSA.gov/medicare) or even in person, as the SSA handles Medicare enrollment, especially if you're not already receiving Social Security benefits. Applying online or by phone is often faster for Parts A and B, but you might need to mail or fax forms for specific situations like Part B enrollment if you have other coverage.
If you apply for Social Security 3 months before you turn 65 or later, you can sign up for Medicare when you apply for Social Security. The Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare begins 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65 — a total of 7 months.
The three core requirements for Medicare eligibility generally center on age (65+ or younger with specific conditions like disability/ESRD/ALS), U.S. citizenship/legal residency (5+ years), and sufficient work history (10 years for premium-free Part A), though some (like ESRD/ALS) bypass age, and individuals must also qualify for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits to get premium-free coverage, notes Medicare School.
To apply for Medicare, you'll need:
The four parts of Medicare are Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.
There could be several reasons why Social Security stopped withholding your Medicare Part B premium. One common reason is that your income has exceeded the threshold for premium assistance. Another reason could be that there was a mistake or error in your records.
Medicare Premiums Over $500
However, if you have a higher-than-average income, your Part B premiums start going up on a sliding scale. How much extra you pay is based on the income you reported to the IRS two years ago.