- You Already Get Railroad Retirement Benefits
You will not need to do anything. You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B effective the month you are 65. For example, if your 65th birthday is February 20, 2001, your Medicare effective date would be February 1, 2001. (Note: if your birthday is on the 1st day of any month, Medicare Part A and Part B will be effective the 1st day of the prior month. For example, if your 65th birthday is February 1, 2001, your Medicare effective date would be January 1, 2001.) Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If you do not want Medicare Part B, follow the instructions that come with the card. For complete information on enrollment see the Copy of Initial Enrollment Package section.
- You Do Not Yet Get Railroad Retirement Benefits and You Want To Apply for Medicare
If you are close to age 65 and not getting Railroad Retirement benefits, you must apply for Medicare. You can apply at any Railroad Retirement Board field office, or by calling the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772. The addresses and phone numbers of all the Board’s field offices are on the Internet at
www.rrb.gov.
You should apply three months before the month you turn 65. This is the beginning of your 7 month Initial Enrollment Period. If you wait until you are 65, or in the last 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, your Medicare Part B coverage start date will be delayed.
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