How to Get Started on Medicare

Medicare helps pay for health-related expenses of people who are 65 or older and people under the age of 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Most people on Medicare don't have to pay to get hospital insurance, which covers hospital and nursing facility stays, home healthcare and hospice care. You have to be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. to qualify for Medicare. Enrollment in Medicare is not automatic, but application takes about 15 minutes through the website of Social Security Online.

Instructions

• 1

  Visit the Medicare website, place your cursor over the "Medicare Basics" button and click "Eligibility & Enrollment." The website will take you to the Medicare Eligibility Tool, which presents you with various questions.

• 2

  Enter your date of birth and marital status, then click the "Continue" button to begin using the Medicare Eligibility Tool. The system will tailor the questions based on your answers, so the number of questions and the information requested depends on your situation. After you finish answering all the questions, the system will show you whether you qualify for Medicare. The Medicare Eligibility Tool will not save or share your information with other parties.

• 3

  Go to the online Medicare application web page. Click the "Estimate My Benefit" button. Follow the prompts on the screen and answer the required questions to obtain a ballpark figure of the amount of your Medicare coverage. You will have to provide details like your Social Security Number and date of birth.

• 4

  Go to the online Medicare application web page. At the right side of the page, there is a box with the title "To Start The Application Process..." with a few options. Choose whether you are applying for yourself and whether you need special notices for the blind or visually impaired. Read the Privacy Act Statement and check the box saying "I have read the Privacy Act Statement." Click the "Apply for Benefits" button to start your application.

• 5

  Follow the prompts on the screen and provide the requested information to complete your application. After you finish submitting your electronic application, Social Security will process your application. You will either get a request for more information or receive your Medicare card in the mail.