Ask Rusty: Applying for SS at 62; When should I enroll in Medicare?

Dear Rusty: I am writing to ask for your advice on when I should sign up or enroll in a Medicare plan. I have submitted an early retirement application to request my Social Security (SS) benefits to begin 30 days after my 62nd birthday. I am a single lady with no dependents and currently rent my residence. Please advise. Signed: Approaching Senior Citizenship Dear Approaching: Even though you are starting your SS retirement benefits at age 62, you will not be eligible to enroll in Medicare until you are 65 years old. Since you will be already receiving SS when you turn 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (inpatient hospitalization coverage) and Medicare Part B (coverage for outpatient services), effective with the month you turn age 65, and you will get a “Welcome to Medicare” packet about 3 months before your 65th birthday. Your Medicare Part A (inpatient hospitalization coverage) will be free, but there will be a monthly premium ($185 for 2025) for your Medicare Part B (coverage for outpatient services), which will be deducted from your Social Security payment. Note that Medicare does not cover all health-care expenses so, when the time comes, you may wish to explore other private health-insurance coverage (either a Medicare Supplement plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan). Also, Medicare Part A or Part B do not include coverage for prescription drugs, so you may wish to obtain such coverage separately. One way to explore all of this is by, shortly before you turn 65, is by contacting AMAC’s Medicare department at (800) 334-9330 or www.amac.us/medicare. And until you are eligible to enroll in Medicare at 65, you may wish to seek regular health insurance for those under 65 years of age. Please understand that we are here to answer all your questions about Social Security and Medicare enrollment. However, at the AMAC Foundation, we are not insurance specialists, which is why I suggest contacting a health-insurance specialist [for that part of the equation.] I hope this is helpful, but please don’t hesitate to contact us again at any time.  

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Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.