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 employer health coverage for you or your spouse.
- 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 in Ohio.
- 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. That includes many Ohio teachers, school employees, public workers, police officers, firefighters and troopers whose pensions come from OPERS, STRS Ohio, SERS, OP&F or HPRS instead of Social Security. Their retirement systems generally require Medicare enrollment, so sign up on time. See Ohio public retirement systems and Medicare.
If you're still working
With job-based coverage from your or your spouse's current employer of 20 or more employees, you can usually delay Part B and sign up later with forms CMS-40B and CMS-L564, which you can submit online. See working past 65.
After you sign up
Ohio has no Medigap birthday rule, so your 6-month Medigap open enrollment, starting when you're 65 and in Part B, is your one guaranteed chance to buy any 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 on the turning 65 in Ohio checklist.
Related questions
When should I sign up if I'm turning 65 in Ohio?
Your 7-month window, month by month.
Do I need Part B if I'm still working at 65?
The 20-employee rule.
What if I miss my enrollment period?
Penalties and your next chance.
Sources
- Social Security — Sign up for Medicare
- Medicare.gov — Sign up for Medicare
- Medicare.gov — When does Medicare coverage start?
- Social Security — Apply for Part B during a special enrollment period
- Ohio Administrative Code 3901-8-08 — Medicare supplement
More questions in this guide
- Can I get Medicare before 65 in Ohio?
- Do I need Medicare Part B if I'm still working at 65 in Ohio?
- What are the Medicare deadlines in Ohio for 2027?
- What happens if I miss my Medicare enrollment period in Ohio?
- What happens to my Medicare if I move to Ohio?
- When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65 in Ohio?
Part of the guide: Medicare enrollment periods in Ohio · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Ohio state office for Medicare sign-up?
No. Medicare is federal, and Social Security handles enrollment for Ohioans. Ohio agencies handle related programs: Ohio Medicaid and the Medicare Premium Assistance Programs through benefits.ohio.gov or your county Job and Family Services office.
How long does it take to get my Medicare card?
If you're enrolled automatically, your card arrives about 3 months before your coverage starts. If you apply, Social Security mails your card after it processes your application; apply early in your Initial Enrollment Period so coverage starts on time.
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 Ohio county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Summit · Montgomery · Lucas · Butler · Stark · Lorain · Warren · Delaware · Lake · Mahoning · Clermont · Trumbull · Licking · Medina · Greene · Fairfield · Portage · All 88 counties →
