The information you will be accessing is provided by another organization or vendor. If you do not intend to leave our site, close this message.
Congratulations! You’re ready to sign up for your Medicare benefits. You’ve done your research and know the benefits included as part of Medicare, you know your coverage options and you’ve even researched the costs associated with your preferred type of Medicare coverage.
First, the good news: if you’re already receiving your Social Security benefits, you’re automatically enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and B) the first day of the month you turn 65. But for people who choose to delay getting Social Security payments until after age 65, you’ll need a few pieces of information handy to begin your enrollment in Medicare.
So what documents do you need to begin your application? To sign up for Medicare you may be asked for proof of your age, your work history and your citizenship or permanent resident status.
You can ensure you have the required information by collecting some personal records ahead of time. In the end, you may not need to provide every document on the Medicare enrollment checklist below, but it’s always better to be prepared.
And if you’re interested in enrolling in coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), there are a few other pieces of easily obtained information you’ll need once you’ve signed up for Original Medicare.
What you need to enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and B)
Before you sign up for Original Medicare, here is the information you’ll want to have handy.
Your date and place of birth.
Your Social Security number.
Social Security numbers of any spouses along with the date and place of any marriages and divorces.
The amount of Social Security work credits you’ve earned while working abroad.
Proof of citizenship (this could be your birth certificate if you were born in the U.S.) or permanent residency if you’re not a citizen.
Details about your employment for the current year and prior two years. This includes the name of your employer and the start and end date of your employment, if applicable. It’s a good idea to have access to your W-2 forms for the previous two years.
If you receive health insurance through your spouse’s employer, you’ll also want to have information about your spouse’s employment for the current year and previous two years.
The names and ages of any children you have who are under age 18.
The names and ages of any children you have who had a disability before age 22.
Information about any federal pension you receive now or will receive in the future.
Know if you’ve ever applied for Social Security benefits in the past or whether anyone has ever applied on your behalf.
Additional items you’ll need to sign up for Medicare Advantage
When you join a Medicare Advantage plan, you'll have to give these additional items:
- Your Medicare number (you can find this information on your Medicare card)
- The name of the Medicare Advantage plan you’ve selected
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Before you sign up for Medicare Advantage, it’s important to understand the different types of plans. Use our comparison tool to compare Medicare Advantage plans and choose the best one for your needs.
Once you’ve done your research, enrolling in Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage is fairly easy. But if you want to save some time and trouble, you can make the process even easier by ensuring you have all your information and documentation organized before you sit down to sign up. Having everything mentioned on this checklist will help make the process a breeze.
Now you’re more prepared to enroll in Medicare
Now that you know how to enroll in Medicare, you’re better prepared to get the care you need. If you’re still unsure about anything, you can learn more with our other Medicare enrollment resources.
Need help?
Call us at 1-833-329-0413
${tty} to chat about any Medicare questions you have.