Every Senior Benefit

Medicare

In short: Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and over and for some younger people with disabilities. It has four parts: A (hospital), B (doctors and outpatient care), C (Medicare Advantage plans from private companies) and D (drugs). Most people pay no premium for Part A. Part B costs $202.90 a month in 2026 for most people . Signing up late can cost you a penalty for life.

Who can get it

  • You are 65 or older and a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for 5 years in a row.
  • You are under 65 and have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits for 24 months.
  • You have end-stage kidney disease or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

You get Part A without a premium if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for about 10 years. If not, you can buy Part A. See Part A.

The parts of Medicare

Part What it covers Main cost in 2026
A Hospital stays, skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, hospice, some home health care Usually no premium. Deductible $1,736 per benefit period
B Doctors, outpatient care, tests, preventive care, medical equipment Premium $202.90 a month, deductible $283 a year, then usually 20%
C Medicare Advantage: private plans that replace A and B, often with drug coverage Varies by plan
D Prescription drugs, from private plans Varies by plan. Out-of-pocket drug costs capped at $2,100 a year

Original Medicare is Parts A and B. You can see any doctor who takes Medicare. Many people add a Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are run by private companies approved by Medicare. They usually have a network of doctors and a yearly limit on what you pay.

When to sign up

  • Initial Enrollment Period: 7 months. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it. Sign up in the first 3 months so coverage starts on time.
  • Automatic enrollment: if you already get Social Security when you turn 65, you are signed up for Parts A and B automatically and your card arrives by mail.
  • If you or your spouse still work: if you have health insurance through a current employer, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty. You then have 8 months after the job or the coverage ends to sign up.
  • General Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31 each year, if you missed your first chance. Coverage starts the month after you sign up.
  • Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7 each year, to join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or drug plan. Changes start January 1.

Late penalties

  • Part B: 10% added to your premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but did not. You usually pay it for as long as you have Part B.
  • Part D: see Part D.
  • Part A (if you must buy it): 10% for twice the number of years you were late.

Help paying for Medicare

  • Medicare Savings Programs pay Part B premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays, for people with limited income. Rules vary by state.
  • Extra Help lowers drug costs.
  • Higher incomes pay more for Parts B and D. See Part B.

How to sign up

  • Online: ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up (for people 65 and over).
  • By phone: Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Ask for a free interpreter if you need one.
  • In person: find your Social Security office at ssa.gov/locator.

Questions about coverage and plans: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Interpreters are available.

Free, unbiased counseling: your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org or 877-839-2675.

Be careful

  • Medicare will not call you to ask for your Medicare number. Do not give it to callers.
  • Advertisements for plans come from companies that are paid to sell them. A SHIP counselor gives free advice with no sales interest.

Check what you may qualify for

Sources

Page last reviewed: 1791763200