Medicare.gov

I’m getting Social Security benefits after 65

Follow this path if you’re waiting until you turn 65 or older to collect Social Security benefits. When you’re ready, you’ll have to contact Social Security to sign up for Medicare. Depending on whether you’re working and if you have health coverage through your employer, you might not want to sign up for Medicare as soon as you become eligible.

African American woman in dark red dress holding her Medicare card and smiling.

Step 4: Choose your coverage

What coverage do you want?

Original Medicare

Once you have Part A and Part B, you have Original Medicare. Most people add prescription coverage by choosing to join a Medicare drug (Part D) plan. You can also add coverage by buying a Medigap policy.

Medicare Advantage

You can choose to join a Medicare Advantage or other Medicare health plan instead of Original Medicare.