Medicare Part B

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If you receive benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you will typically receive Medicare benefits with Part B automatically starting on the first day of the month you turn 65. If your birthday falls on the first day of the month, your Medicare enrollment in Part B will begin on the first day of the previous month. For those under 65 who are disabled, you will automatically qualify for Part B after receiving disability benefits from Social Security or specific disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months. You can expect to receive your Medicare card in the mail approximately three months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of disability. If you decide you do not want Part B, follow the instructions included with the card and return it. By keeping the card, you will maintain your Part B coverage and be responsible for the associated premiums. Individuals diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) will automatically receive Part B starting in the month their disability benefits commence.

If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you first became eligible, you may be able to enroll during one of these periods: 

General Enrollment Period — Between January 1 and March 31 each year. Your coverage will start on the first of the month following your application date. Keep in mind, if you missed this initial Medicare enrollment, you may face a late enrollment penalty. 

Special Enrollment Period — If you delay signing up for Part B because you or your spouse are currently employed and covered by a group health plan associated with that job, or if you are disabled and working or have a family member working while you are covered by a group health plan, you have the option to enroll in Part B at any time while covered by that group health plan. Additionally, you can also sign up during the 8-month period that starts the month after employment ends or the group health plan coverage ends, whichever comes first. If you're utilizing COBRA coverage, you must enroll within the 8-month period that begins after the employment ends. Please note that this Special Enrollment Period does not apply to individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 

Special Enrollment Period for International Volunteers — If you postponed signing up for Medicare Part B because you had health insurance while volunteering outside the U.S. for a tax-exempt organization for at least one year, you can enroll during the 6-month period that begins the first month one of the following occurs: 

You are no longer volunteering outside the U.S. 

The sponsoring organization loses its tax-exempt status. 

You lose your health insurance coverage outside the U.S. 

If you have Medicare benefits due to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you can sign up for Part B when you enroll for Part A. Delaying Part B enrollment means you can only enroll during the general enrollment period and may incur a late enrollment penalty. 

If you reside in Puerto Rico and want Part B, you will have to sign up for it directly. Contact your local Social Security office for additional details. 

If you are not receiving Social Security or RRB benefits and wish to obtain Part B, you will need to sign up during your initial enrollment period. This is a 7-month window that starts three months before you turn 65, includes your 65th birthday month, and ends three months after that month. 

Important Note: 

If you do not enroll in Medicare Part B when first eligible, you might face a late enrollment penalty for the entirety of your Medicare coverage. Your monthly premium for Part B may increase by 10% for each complete 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not enroll. Typically, no late enrollment penalty applies if you enroll during a special enrollment period.

To better understand Medicare benefits and the Medicare enrollment process, you can read “Medicare and You,” which is the official government handbook about Medicare.