The fastest way to get Medicare Part B is to apply online through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website, which allows for immediate, electronic submission. For most, this process can be completed in minutes, often with coverage starting the month after application during the initial enrollment period.
Ways to sign up:
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.
Coverage begins: Generally, the first month after you sign up. If you sign up for Part B while you (or your spouse) are still working, or within the first full month after employer coverage ends, you can ask to delay your Part B start date up to 3 months.
If you missed your initial enrollment period when you first became eligible for Medicare, you can only sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year.
If you file your taxes as "married, filing jointly" and your MAGI is greater than $218,000, you'll pay higher premiums for your Part B and Medicare prescription drug coverage. If you file your taxes using a different status, and your MAGI is greater than $109,000, you'll pay higher premiums.
If you can't afford to pay your Medicare premiums and other medical costs, you may be able to get help from your state. States offer Medicare Savings Programs for people entitled to Medicare who have limited income. Some programs may pay for Medicare premiums and some pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
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Part B (Medical Insurance)
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.)
Costs for Part B (Medical Insurance)
$202.90 each month (or higher depending on your income). The amount can change each year. You'll pay the premium each month, even if you don't get any Part B-covered services.
There are 10 different types of Medigap policies (labeled A through N), each having a different, standardized set of benefits (Appendix Table 3). Plan G is the most popular Medigap policy, accounting for 39% of all policyholders, or nearly 5.3 million people, in 2023 (Figure 3).
The processing time for Medicare Part B applications typically ranges from one to three months, starting when the Social Security Administration receives your application. It's best to apply as early as possible, especially if you're nearing your 65th birthday or the end of your Initial Enrollment Period.
This benefit is not a permanent or long-term care solution; it's designed to provide short-term, medically necessary care following a qualifying hospital stay. The 100-day limit is per “benefit period,” not per calendar year, and can reset if certain conditions are met.
As of November 2023, the income limits for free Part B coverage are as follows: Individuals with an income at or below 135% of the FPL: Individuals whose income falls at or below this threshold may qualify for free Part B coverage. As of now, the income limit for an individual is $1,640 per month or $19,683 per year.
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. Visit https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp to find the address for your local office. to enroll in Medicare over the phone.
Call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Help from Medicare is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) – Get free personalized health insurance counseling.
Medicare Part B Premium and Deductible
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $202.90 for 2026, an increase of $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $283 in 2026, an increase of $26 from the annual deductible of $257 in 2025.
Most people pay the standard Part B monthly premium amount ($202.90 in 2026). Social Security will tell you the exact amount you'll pay for Part B in 2026. You pay the standard premium amount if you: Sign up for Part B for the first time in 2026.
One option you have for delaying enrollment in Medicare Part B is if you're still working and have creditable employer health insurance. This is the most common way people avoid Part B premiums: by staying on their employer's group health plan past age 65.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has set the standard monthly Part B premium at $202.90 in 2026, an increase of $17.90, or just under 10 percent, from the 2025 premium of $185.00.
I have Part A already & want to add Part B (only available Jan 1 – March 31)
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Waiting until the new year to claim Social Security typically results in an extra year of service credit, which would increase the size of your benefit. The Social Security Administration offers an online benefits calculator where you can compare your benefit estimates based on a selected date or age.
Starting in 2025, there is an annual limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for prescription medications through Medicare and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans. All prescription medications, including specialty medications, covered by Part D plans are included under this cap.
Patients meet the 3-day rule by staying 3 consecutive days in 1 or more hospitals. Hospitals count the admission day but not the discharge day. Time spent in the ED or outpatient observation before admission doesn't count toward the 3-day rule.
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