How to Apply for Medicare or Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid are U.S. government programs that assist citizens with paying for health care. Medicare is operated by the federal Health and Human Services Department to help Americans over 65 and the disabled. Medicaid is federally mandated, but carried out by individual states to help low-income individuals. Each program demands certain qualifications for participants. If you know you meet the qualifications, applying for either program is fairly easy.

Instructions

Applying for Medicare

• 1

  Gather your state-issued ID or birth certificate, Social Security card and proof of your or your spouse's current or prior Medicare-covered employment. Medicare is directly tied to Social Security, so it is best to apply for both at the same time. In order to apply for Medicare, you must be 65 years old or approaching 65 within three months, and you or your spouse must have been employed for at least 10 years in a Medicare-covered job.

• 2

  Find your nearest Social Security office by visiting your state government website or searching the government section of your telephone directory. Or, you can call Social security at 1-800-772-1213.

• 3

  Fill out the forms as instructed once your arrive at the Social Security office. Officials at your local Social Security office will direct you through the specifics and will answer any questions you may have. Once you are within three months of your 65th birthday, your Initial Enrollment Period begins. You have seven months from this date to sign up for Medicare without risk of delay.

• 4

  Turn in your forms and wait for your Medicare card. Once you receive your card, which will take about three months, your service will officially begin.

Apply for Medicaid

• 5

  Find out your state's Medicaid eligibility rules. These rules vary from state to state, so you will have to look for this information on your state government website or by calling the Medicaid office in your area. Generally, the major qualification is that your household must be at or near the Federal Poverty Level. To find your specific state's rules, visit the website GovBenefits.gov.

• 6

  Collect information confirming your identity and income status. This will include Social Security cards, birth certificates for all you are seeking to have covered, pay stubs from any employment and state-issued ID.

• 7

  Go to your local branch of the Medicaid authority for your state and obtain an application. People at the office will assist with filling out the form. Submit the application to the officials at the office.

• 8

  Wait the required period of time (as instructed by officials at the Medicaid office) until you are approved for services. You should receive correspondence in the mail.