I'm turning 65! What do I need to do? 

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If you are not receiving retirement benefits yet, you will need to sign up manually for Medicare Part A and / or Part B through

Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

   * Visit the Social Security website. You can apply for Medicare only if you are not yet ready to receive retirement benefits.

   * Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a, to 7:00 pm. TTY Users can call 1-800-325-0778.

   * Apply in person at your local Social Security office.

   * If you worked for a railroad, you can apply for Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772, Monday

     through Friday, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. TTY users can dial 1-312-751-4701.

First-time Medicare beneficiaries have what is called an Intial Enrollment Period. This period starts three months

prior to your 65th birthday, includes your birth month, and extends three months after your birth month. It is importnat

to enroll during this time. If you do not enroll during the Intial Enrollment Period, you may incur late fees or have to

wait until the General Enrollment Period, between January 1 to March 31 of the following year.

If you or your spouse are still working when you turn 65 and you have health insurance through this employer, you might want

to consider delaying enrollment in Part B. You may not wish to pay Part B premium if you do not need the coverage.

Contact your employer's benefits department to see what coverage is sufficient and find out how it might work with Medicare Part B

before making a descision.

When your employer coverage ends, you will be provided with a Special Enrollment Period that lasts eight months to sign

up for Medicare Part B without incurring a penalty.

After you have enrolled in Medicare Part A and part B, you can enhance this coverage with a Medicgap plan and prescription

drug coverage through a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Or you can choose to get all your coverage in the form of a

Medicare Advantage plan, with or without prescription drug benefits.