Medicare Part B: How to Enroll


Medicare Part B is an important component in your health care coverage.  It is your Medical Insurance, and helps to cover things like doctor’s services, outpatient services and supplies, some physical or occupational therapy, some home health care, diagnostic tests, durable medical equipment, and various other medically necessary services and supplies.

Depending on what the circumstances surrounding your enrollment are, how you enroll in Medicare Part B will vary.  For example, if you are already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B the first day of your 65th birthday month.  Approximately three months before you turn 65, your Medicare card should come in the mail.  If you don’t want Medicare Part B, you can, at this time, choose not to accept coverage.  There will be instructions on your Medicare Card, detailing how to opt out.

Another situation in which you can be enrolled in Medicare Part B is if you are under 65 and disabled. In most cases, you will be automatically enrolled after 24 months of receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.  You should get your Medicare card around three months prior to your 25th month of disability benefits.  However, if you have ALS, you will be enrolled in Medicare Part B the first month of your disability benefits.

A third situation in which you can enroll in Medicare Part B is if you have End-Stage Renal Disease.  In this case, you can apply at the same time as you apply for Medicare Part A.  Your Part B coverage will begin, in most cases, the fourth month of dialysis treatment or the first month of a kidney transplant.

Finally, if you’re nearing 65 and you don’t get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits yet, you can enroll in Medicare Part B when you sign up for Medicare Part A or when you apply for retirement benefits.  If you don’t want Medicare Part A and if you’re not eligible to receive it without paying a premium, it is also possible to enroll in only Medicare Part B.

If your situation doesn’t allow you to receive automatic enrollment in Medicare Part B and you want to sign up, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.


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