Medicare Application

One of those "life events" we all look forward to. Just reviewing the rules has given me a headache.

If like me you will not automatically be enrolled in Medicare by receiving Social Security benefits at least four months before age 65, you must apply for Medicare yourself during the initial enrollment period of three months before to four months after the month you turn 65. (You might want to read the last sentence, and this entire post, more slowly.)

Medicare recommends and some employers require that you sign up for the premium-free hospital/in-patient insurance (Part A) during this initial period. If you aren't continuing employer group coverage for medical/out-patient insurance (Part B), you should also sign up to pay the monthly Part B premium at this time, to avoid a permanent penalty surcharge later.

You can't sign up for private Medicare insurance (Medigap, Part C Medicare Advantage, or a Part D drug plan) until you're approved for original Medicare Parts A and B, so that's another post.

You can submit your application up to 3 months before the month you turn 65. Application options are online (recommended by Social Security), phone (1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778), or in-person at your local office (appointments are recommended).

There's a wealth of information about Medicare available online, just never in one place. You might want to look at (or even study carefully) the Medicare & You handbook. But here's something I couldn't find: the actual schedule for my application process. I have no reason to think it's not typical.

Medicare Application Timeline
Time	Events
--	Submit Medicare application
1 week	A Medicare Award email (without Medicare number) is sent if you provided an email address.
2 weeks	A Medicare Notice of Award letter (without Medicare number or card) is sent.
3 weeks	A Medicare card with number and suffix is sent. The Medicare number will permit application(s) for private Medigap supplement, Medicare Advantage or other Part C health plan, and Drug (Part D) insurance, registration for a MyMedicare.gov account, and mailing of the Authorization Agreement for Preauthorized Payments form (SF-5510) for automatic ACH payments if desired.
2 months	A first Medicare Part B bill for 3 months is sent, since ACH processing is not yet completed.
3 months	Medicare coverage starts. The 6-month open enrollment period for private supplemental insurance (Medigap, Medicare Advantage or other Part C plans, and drugs) starts the month you're 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B (When Can I Buy Medigap?).
5 months	Approved Preauthorized Payments notice is sent.
5 months 1 week	First monthly ACH payment is made. A monthly Social Security paper statement noting "This is not a bill" is sent before each ACH payment.