How to sign up, step by step
- Check your timing. Your Initial Enrollment Period runs from 3 months before the month you turn 65 to 3 months after. Signing up before your birthday month means coverage starts the first day of that month.
- Gather your information. Your Social Security number, birth date and place, and details of any current job-based coverage. Still working? See working past 65 before you decide on Part B. Not a U.S. citizen? Have your green card or other immigration document ready.
- Apply. Online at ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up, by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or at a Social Security office; find the nearest with Social Security's office locator.
- Watch for your card. Keep your Medicare card and any letters from Social Security together.
- Choose added coverage. Decide between Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan, within your windows.
Who is enrolled automatically?
If you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you're enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically. People under 65 are enrolled automatically after 24 months of Social Security disability benefits, and people with ALS the month those benefits start.
You are not enrolled automatically if you haven't started Social Security, for example because you plan to claim at your full retirement age or at 70. That's common among people who retire to Florida while still working or living on savings: Medicare sign-up at 65 is a separate step.
What's different in Florida?
- State Group Insurance retirees: the State plan pays after Medicare even if you skip Part B, so you'd pay the share Part B would have paid. To join one of the State's group Medicare Advantage plans, send your Medicare card to People First. See Florida state retirees and Medicare.
- Two homes: if you split the year between Florida and another state, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are tied to your permanent residence. See snowbirds and Medicare.
- Help paying: if your income is limited, apply for a Medicare Savings Program through ACCESS Florida (DCF, (850) 300-4323). See Medicare Savings Programs in Florida.
After you sign up
Florida has no Medigap birthday rule, so your 6-month Medigap open enrollment, starting when you're 65 and in Part B, is your main guaranteed chance to buy a policy without health questions. To compare options, see plans for your ZIP code, or you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent to review plans from the companies they work with. More in the turning 65 in Florida guide.
Related questions
When should I sign up if I'm turning 65 in Florida?
Your 7-month window, month by month.
What if I miss my enrollment period?
Penalties and your next chance.
Can I get Medicare as a permanent resident?
Green card holders, work credits and the 5-year rule.
Sources
- Social Security — Sign up for Medicare
- Social Security — Inscríbase en Medicare (Spanish; online application in English only)
- Medicare.gov — Sign up for Medicare
- Medicare.gov — When does Medicare coverage start?
- Florida Division of State Group Insurance — Retiree FAQ
- Florida Department of Children and Families — Public assistance (ACCESS Florida)
More questions in this guide
- Can I get Medicare before 65 in Florida?
- What are the Medicare deadlines in Florida for 2027?
- Will some immigrants lose Medicare because of the 2025 federal law?
- Can I get Medicare as a permanent resident (green card holder) in Florida?
- What happens if I miss my Medicare enrollment period in Florida?
- When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65 in Florida?
Part of the guide: Medicare enrollment periods in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Florida state office for Medicare sign-up?
No. Medicare is federal, and Social Security handles enrollment. Florida agencies handle related programs: Florida Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Programs through ACCESS Florida (Department of Children and Families), and State Group Insurance for State retirees through People First.
Can I apply for Medicare online in Spanish?
Not yet. Social Security's Spanish sign-up page says the online application is available only in English. In Spanish, call 1-800-772-1213 and press 7, weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., or visit a Social Security office.
Do I sign up for Medicare Advantage or Part D through Social Security too?
No. After you have Part A and Part B, you join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan through Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE or the plan itself. Medigap is bought directly from an insurance company.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
