Medicare Enrollment Through Social Security: Enrollment Periods, How to Sign Up and What the Office Can Do
Cross-checked against official SSA.gov policy guidelines and Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
People searching for a "Medicare office near me" usually end up at a Social Security office, and that is the right place. The Social Security Administration (SSA) handles enrollment in Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical), replacement Medicare cards, and premium questions tied to your Social Security record. Medicare itself (CMS) handles coverage, claims and the Part D drug plans. This guide covers the SSA side: when to enroll, how, and what the local office can and cannot do.
Who is enrolled automatically
You are enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically, with the card mailed about three months before your 65th birthday, if you are already receiving Social Security retirement or Railroad Retirement benefits. People on SSDI are enrolled automatically after 24 months of disability benefits.
Everyone else, which now includes most people turning 65 because they are still working or delaying retirement, must apply.
The enrollment periods
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. Enrolling in the first three months means coverage starts the month you turn 65. Enrolling later in the window delays the start date.
General Enrollment Period (GEP)
January 1 to March 31 every year, for people who missed their IEP and have no Special Enrollment Period. Coverage starts the month after you sign up, and a late-enrollment penalty usually applies.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP) after employer coverage
If you or your spouse were still working at 65 and you were covered by that employer's group health plan (employer with 20 or more employees), you can delay Part B without penalty. You then have an 8-month SEP that starts the month the employment or the coverage ends, whichever is first. COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as current employment, so do not wait for COBRA to run out.
Other SEPs
Since 2023 SSA also grants SEPs for exceptional circumstances: a declared disaster, misinformation from an employer or health plan, release from incarceration, and loss of Medicaid.
The Part B late-enrollment penalty
For every full 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not sign up, the monthly premium rises by 10%, for as long as you have Medicare. Someone who enrolls three years late pays 30% more every month for life. This is the single biggest reason to enroll on time or to document employer coverage properly.
Part A is premium-free for anyone with 40 work credits, so there is rarely a reason to delay it. (One exception: contributing to a Health Savings Account requires not being enrolled in any part of Medicare.)
How to enroll
Online (about 10 minutes)
- Sign in or create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
- Choose Apply for Medicare only if you are not ready to claim retirement, or include Medicare in the retirement application if you are.
- Answer the questions; no documents are uploaded for most applicants.
- Submit and note the confirmation number. The Medicare card arrives by mail, usually within two to four weeks.
Special Enrollment Period online
The SEP application is also online. You upload two forms: CMS-40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B) and CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information), the second completed by your employer or supported by pay stubs or W-2s that show the coverage dates.
By phone
Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and ask for a Medicare enrollment appointment. Local office numbers are on every office page and in the phone directory.
At a Social Security office
Book an appointment through the appointment page, then bring the documents below. Find the office with the ZIP locator. Any field office can enroll you; Card Centers in New York City, Philadelphia, Orlando and the Twin Cities do not handle Medicare.
What to bring
- Social Security number
- Proof of age (birth certificate or passport) if SSA has not verified it
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence for at least five years
- For a Special Enrollment Period: Form CMS-L564 from the employer, or W-2s and pay stubs showing group coverage dates, plus Form CMS-40B
- Bank details if you will also claim retirement
Everything is returned at the window. The full checklist by task is in what to bring to the Social Security office.
What the Social Security office can do
- Enroll you in Part A and Part B, including SEP enrollments
- Order a replacement Medicare card (also online and on the automated phone line)
- Explain and apply the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) and take Form SSA-44 if your income dropped after a life-changing event
- Take applications for Extra Help with Part D drug costs
- Withdraw a Part B enrollment or terminate Part B (Form CMS-1763)
- Set up or change the deduction of Part B premiums from your benefit
What it cannot do
- Choose or change a Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan: that is Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE
- Handle claims, denials or provider questions
- Enroll you in a Medigap (supplement) policy, which is sold by insurers under state rules
- Give advice on which plan is best; the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in each state offers free counseling
Frequently asked questions
I am 65, still working and covered by my employer. Do I need to do anything?
If the employer has 20 or more employees, you can delay Part B without penalty and enroll during the 8-month SEP after the job or the coverage ends. Many people still take premium-free Part A at 65 unless they contribute to an HSA. If the employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare is primary and you should enroll at 65.
Do I have to claim Social Security to get Medicare?
No. You can apply for Medicare only and claim retirement later.
How do I get a replacement Medicare card?
Online in my Social Security (instant printable version, with a new card mailed), by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at a field office.
My Medicare premium is higher because of my income from two years ago. Can it be lowered?
If your income dropped because of retirement, a spouse's death, divorce or similar event, file Form SSA-44 with proof at a Social Security office or by mail.
Is there a Medicare office I can visit?
Medicare has no public walk-in offices. Enrollment is handled by Social Security offices; coverage questions go to 1-800-MEDICARE or your state's SHIP counselors.
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