Medicare eligibility and enrollment

When it comes to Original Medicare, your enrollment could be as uncomplicated as opening your mail and putting your Medicare card in your wallet. But there’s usually more to it than that.

For some Americans – specifically, those who are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits before turning 65 – the government automatically enrolls you in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B at age 65. But millions of Americans who are drawing closer to aging into Medicare eligibility have a long list of choices to make and some important deadlines to note.

This Enrollment section answers many of the questions that should be top of mind for prospective Medicare beneficiaries. But we also look at changes you can make – and when you can make them – if you’re already enrolled in Medicare coverage. Among the topics we cover:

• How to enroll in each type of the Medicare coverage
• Important Medicare enrollment deadlines
• How to change your Medicare coverage
• How to know if you’re eligible for Medicare coverage
• How to transition from Obamacare to Medicare
• Are there specific steps I should take to prepare for enrollment in Medicare?

Still have questions about enrollment? We have an entire section of frequently asked Medicare questions devoted to the topic.