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Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Enrolling in Medicare

Overview: What to Know for Sign Up

1. Exploring Options

2. Enrolling While Working

3. Medicare Online Account

4. Get Help Enrolling

5. Kidney Disease Enrollment

6. ALS Enrollment

Overview: First Time Signup

1. Initial Enrollment

2. Special Enrollment

3. When First Eligible I Didn't Enroll

4. Part B Penalty

5. Medicare Advantage Enrollment

6. Part D Enrollment

7. Part D Penalty

8. Buying Medigap

9. Medicare Card

10. Ten Steps After Enrollment

Open Enrollment (*)

Changing Medicare Coverage

Missed Open Enrollment

Changing Part C Plan (*)

When to Enroll in Part D Plan

Do I Reenroll in My Part D Plan

Changing Part D Plan (*)

Cancelling Medigap (*)

Overview: Changing Medicare Plans

1. Open Enrollment

2. Changing Medicare Coverage

3. Missed Open Enrollment

4. Changing Part C Plan

5. When to Enroll in Part D Plan

6. Do I Reenroll in My Part D Plan

7. Changing My Part D Plan

8. Cancelling Medigap

After Public Service Career

Former Employer and Part B Coverage

Medicare and Spousal Insurance (*)

Medicare and VA Healthcare (*)

Medicare and Military Tricare (*)

Military Tricare Medicare Spouse

Retiring Federal Employees

Medicare and Railroad Retirement Benefits

Medicare and COBRA (*)

Medicare and Medicaid

Overview: Medicare with Other Coverage

1. After Public Service Career

2. Former Employer and Part B Coverage

3. Medicare and Spousal Insurance

4. Medicare and VA Health Care

5. Medicare and Military Tricare

6. Military Tricare Medicare Spouse

7. Retiring Federal Employees

8. Medicare and Railroad Retirement Benefits

9. Medicare and COBRA

10. Medicare and Medicaid

How Do I Sign Up for the First Time

AARP/Getty Images

Most people sign up for at least one part of Medicare during their seven-month initial enrollment period, but that’s not the only time you can do it.

You can’t enroll whenever you please and sometimes being late means paying penalties. So you’ll want to know the ins and outs of the program to prevent problems later.

Every person has different needs. That’s why so many options are available. You can learn how to sort through the alternatives, pick the best for you and sign up for what you want.

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Series overview

1. Initial Enrollment

2. Special Enrollment

3. When First Eligible I Didn't Enroll

4. Part B Penalty

5. Medicare Advantage Enrollment

6. Part D Enrollment

7. Part D Penalty

8. Buying Medigap

9. Medicare Card

10. Ten Steps After Enrollment

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