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Medicare Application Rules

Medicare is a public health insurance program run by the federal government. Depending on whether or not you are entitled to receive Medicare coverage, you might need to apply for benefits. Some people receive free hospital insurance coverage (Part A) while others must pay for all Medicare coverage if they would like to be insured. Medicare application rules vary from one case to another, since some people might not need to enroll, while others do.

  1. Application Rules

    • Medicare has four coverage parts. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance, which helps you pay for hospital costs and hospice care. Part B is medical insurance, which helps you pay for doctor visit costs and preventive care. Part C is coverage provided by private companies, including Part A and B coverage plus additional services. Part D is prescription drug coverage, which helps you to pay for prescription drugs. The application rules you must follow vary according to your personal situation. Some people do not need to apply for Medicare Part A or Part B, while others do. All members need to apply for Medicare Part C and Part D if they desire to be insured. Depending on whether or not you have paid Medicare tax, Medicare Part A coverage can be free. People who have not paid Medicare tax have to pay for Medicare Part A if they want to be enrolled, although they are not required to do so. People who are entitled to free Part A must enroll.

    Part A Application Rules

    • If you are entitled to receive premium free Part A coverage because you have paid Medicare tax, your benefits start when you reach 65 years of age, or after you have received disability benefits for 24 months. However, you do need to enroll if, upon reaching 65 years of age, you are not yet receiving retirement benefits. Application rules establish that you must enroll during a seven-month period that starts three months before your 65th birthday and lasts through the month of your birthday and up to three months after it.

    Part B Application Rules

    • If you retire before age 65 and you start receiving retirement benefits, you do not need to apply for Medicare Part B medical insurance. Your coverage starts on its own when you reach 65 years of age. If you have not yet retired, you might contact the Social Security office to enroll. If you are entitled to receive Part A, you are eligible to enroll in Part B, and you do not need to apply for benefits. Enrollment periods for Part B are the same as for Part A. However, if you do not enroll in Part B when you reach 65 years of age, the Social Security office charges you a late penalty when you try to enroll later.

    Parts C and Part D Application Rules

    • To apply for Medicare Part C, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. You can have either Medicare Part A or Part B in order to enroll in Medicare Part D. You can enroll in Part C and Part D when you turn 65 years of age. For Part D, you can also enroll when another prescription drug coverage plan you have ends. If you do not enroll in Part D under these two rules, you must pay a late enrollment penalty.

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