Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Sign up for Medicare

Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. You’ll sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security, so you can make both retirement and Medicare choices and withhold any premiums from your benefit payments.

If you’re under age 65, you may be eligible for Medicare if you have permanent kidney failure or if you receive Disability benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not qualify you for Medicare on its own. Even if you receive SSI, you must meet one of the other requirements to qualify.

Sign up for other parts of Medicare

Review and sign up for Medicare Advantage and drug plans on Medicare.gov.

Sign up if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

You can get Medicare if you have ESRD. Call 800-772-1213 and tell the representative you want to apply for Medicare because you have ESRD.

Other ways to complete this task

Call us

Available in most U.S. time zones Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. in English and other languages.

Tell the representative you want to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B, or Part A only.

After you submit a request

Check the status of your application.