How to Sign Up

What you have to do to sign up for Medicare depends on how you qualify and whether you want Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Original Medicare is automatic for some people, but not others, while anybody who wants Medicare Advantage has to sign up. And, even if you get Original Medicare automatically, you still need to sign up for a Part D plan.

You should also think about applying for a Medicare Savings Program and the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) — many people lose out on this help because they never bother to apply.

If you need help, call the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800-434-0222 or Medicare at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).

Signing Up for Original Medicare

Some people automatically start getting Original Medicare coverage without having to sign up. This includes anybody who:

• Gets Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or CDB benefits for two years (24 months)
• Turns 65 and already gets Social Security retirement benefits, or
• Has ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

If you are in one of these situations, you get a notice in the mail three to four months before your Medicare is supposed to start. The notice will tell you:

• The exact date your automatic Original Medicare Part A and Part B coverage starts
  • You don’t have to pay a premium for Part A
  • You probably have to pay a $174.70 monthly premium for Part B. It might be a bit less, depending on your situation.
• How to decline Part B, if you have employer-sponsored coverage and don’t want to pay the premium for Part B
• How to sign up for Part D prescription drug coverage, and
• How to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare.

If you do not automatically start getting Medicare benefits, you can sign up for Original Medicare Parts A and B:

• Online at the Social Security website, or
• At the local Social Security office or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).

Learn more about signing up for Original Medicare.

Signing Up for Private Plans: Part D, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage

If you have government-run Original Medicare, you have the options of also getting a privately managed Part D prescription drug policy and, if you are 65 or older, a privately run Medigap policy (Medicare Supplement Insurance).

Or, you may decide that you want a privately run Medicare Advantage plan that includes all the benefits you need. Note: Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, but some allow you to sign up for a separate Part D plan instead.

For all of these types of privately managed Medicare benefits, the signup process is basically the same:

1. You decide which types of plans you want to sign up for.
2. You research the private plans you are looking at:
   • Compare Medicare Advantage Plans or Part D plans
   • Compare Medigap plans (only if you are 65 or older)
3. You sign up:
   • On Medicare.gov
   • By calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or 1-877-486-2048 (TTY)
   • By calling the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800-434-0222
   • By completing a paper application with the plan, or
   • By contacting the plan directly.

When to Sign Up for Part D or Medicare Advantage Plans

When you should sign up for a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan (or switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare) depends on your situation:

1. You can sign up, switch, or drop plans at any time if you:
   • Get both Medicare and Medi-Cal (or Medi-Cal's Working Disabled Program) benefits
   • Get help from a Medicare Savings Program
   • Qualify for the Part D Low Income Subsidy (Extra Help)
   • Move into or leave a skilled nursing facility, or
   • In certain other situations, like if you move outside of your plan’s service area.
2. If your Medicare coverage is just starting, you can sign up anytime during the three months before and after your Medicare coverage starts. This is called the initial enrollment period.
3. You can add, drop, or switch plans every October 15 - December 7. This is called the annual election period. Any changes you make start on January 1 of the following year. Note: If you want to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare with Part D, you can do so until February 14.

Applying for Help to Pay for Medicare

Regardless of whether you have Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, you can apply for help to pay for your Medicare coverage:

• You can apply for a Medicare Savings Program online using BenefitsCal or complete the paper MSP application and submit it to your county social services agency.
• You can apply for the Low Income Subsidy online or at your local Social Security office.

Note: If you have Medi-Cal coverage as well as Medicare, you may already be getting help from an MSP and the LIS automatically.

Learn more about MSPs and the LIS. If you want to talk with someone about them, call the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800-434-0222.