How to Apply for Medicare in Utah: Step by Step
Direct answer: To apply for Medicare in Utah, you sign up with Social Security — online at SSA.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or at a local Social Security office found with the SSA office locator. If you already get Social Security benefits, you're usually enrolled automatically at 65. Otherwise, apply during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday.
Sources: SSA: Sign up for Medicare · Medicare.gov: How do I sign up for Medicare?
Key takeaways
- You apply for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security, not through an insurance company.
- If you get Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you're enrolled automatically.
- Your sign-up window is 7 months: the 3 months before your birthday month, that month, and the 3 months after.
- Sign up before your birthday month and your coverage starts the month you turn 65.
- Have your Social Security number, your place of birth and any job-based health plan dates ready.
Want a second set of eyes before you apply? Book a phone or video call with our Utah team.
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This guide is for Utahns turning 65, people still working at 65, and family members helping a parent sign up. We'll go through who needs to apply, when to do it, what you'll need, and the 3 ways to apply.
Do you need to apply, or are you enrolled automatically?
Some people get Medicare Part A and Part B automatically. Others have to sign up (Medicare.gov).
You're enrolled automatically if you start getting Social Security (or Railroad Retirement Board) benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65. Medicare mails your welcome package with your Medicare card about 3 months before your coverage starts.
You need to sign up if you aren't getting those benefits yet, for example because you're still working or waiting to claim Social Security. You contact Social Security to sign up.
Still working at 65?
If you or your spouse have health coverage through a current job, you may be able to wait to sign up for Part B. Read Medicare when you're still working at 65 before you decide.
When can I apply for Medicare?
Your first chance is your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts 7 months: it starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it (Medicare.gov).
When you sign up changes when your Part B coverage starts:
| If you sign up… | Part B coverage starts… |
|---|---|
| Before the month you turn 65 | The month you turn 65 |
| The month you turn 65, or in the 3 months after | The next month |
If you get Part A without paying a premium, it starts the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the 1st, coverage starts the month before (Medicare.gov).
Want to see every Utah enrollment date in one place? See Medicare enrollment dates in Utah.
If you miss your window
If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period and don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31. Coverage starts the month after you sign up (Medicare.gov).
You might also pay a late enrollment penalty. Your monthly Part B premium may go up 10% for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn't. You pay it for as long as you have Part B (Medicare.gov). Our Medicare penalty calculator shows how it works.
If you're still working at 65
If you have group health coverage through your job or your spouse's job, you get a Special Enrollment Period. After your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Part B while you still have that coverage, or during the 8 months after the coverage or the job ends, whichever happens first (Medicare.gov).
Two forms help with this: CMS-40B (the Part B application) and CMS-L564 (your employer fills it out to confirm your coverage) (CMS-40B · CMS-L564).
COBRA and retiree coverage don't count for this Special Enrollment Period (Medicare.gov).
How to apply for Medicare in Utah: 7 steps
Check whether you'll be enrolled automatically
If you'll be getting Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, Medicare will enroll you in Part A and Part B and mail your card. If not, keep going (Medicare.gov).
Find your 7-month window
Count 3 months before your birthday month, that month and 3 months after. Signing up in the first 3 months means your coverage starts the month you turn 65.
Decide about Part B if you have job-based coverage
Coverage from a current job can let you wait on Part B without a penalty (SSA). COBRA and retiree plans don't (Medicare.gov). Talk to your benefits administrator before you make changes (Medicare.gov).
Gather your information
Have your Social Security number, your place of birth (city, state, country), and the start and end dates of any current group health plan, plus any group plans you've had since 65 (SSA).
Apply with Social Security
Apply online at SSA.gov with a my Social Security account. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office (SSA).
Watch for your Medicare card and check your status
Your welcome package with your Medicare card comes about 2 weeks after you sign up. You can check your application status online (Medicare.gov; SSA).
Decide on drug coverage and any other coverage
Once you have Medicare, you can look at drug coverage (Part D), a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medicare Supplement. Each has its own sign-up timing. To join a Medicare Advantage plan, you need both Part A and Part B (Medicare.gov).
3 ways to apply
- Online. Go to SSA.gov/medicare/sign-up. If you're 65 or older, you can apply online for Part A and Part B, or Part A only. Medicare.gov calls online "the easiest and fastest way to sign up." You'll need to create a my Social Security account (Medicare.gov).
- By phone. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most U.S. time zones. Say you want to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B, or Part A only (SSA).
- At a Social Security office. You can contact your local office (Medicare.gov).
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 instead (Medicare.gov).
Finding a Social Security office in Salt Lake City or elsewhere in Utah
Office locations and hours can change, so use Social Security's office locator and enter your ZIP code. It works for Salt Lake City and all of Utah. Examples to try: Salt Lake City area 84111 or 84115, Provo 84601, St. George 84770. SSA recommends making an appointment before you visit. Some Utah field offices have been relocating, so rely on the locator—not older third-party directories.
After you apply: local help in Utah
Once you have your Medicare number, you can compare Advantage, drug and Medigap options on Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). Local Area Agencies on Aging are also senior-services resources:
- Salt Lake County: Aging & Adult Services (Utah DHHS locations)
- Utah County (Provo/Orem): Mountainland Aging & Family Services, 801-229-3800, 586 East 800 North, Orem (MAG Aging)
- Washington County (St. George): Five County Area Agency on Aging, 435-673-3548, 1070 West 1600 South, Building B, St. George (Utah DHHS locations)
City guides: Salt Lake City, Provo / Utah County, St. George.
Apply only with Social Security
Apply only through SSA.gov, by calling Social Security, or at a Social Security office. Some websites are made to look like government sites but aren't. Check that the web address ends in ssa.gov.
What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?
Social Security asks for this information (SSA):
- ✓Your Social Security number
- ✓Where you were born (city, state, country)
- ✓Start and end dates for any current group health plans
- ✓Start and end dates for any group health plans you've had since turning 65
- ✓Part B only: a valid email address and your existing Medicare number
If you're signing up for Part B after job coverage, also have Form CMS-L564 filled out by your employer (CMS).
Common mistakes when signing up
- Thinking everyone is enrolled automatically. It's only automatic if you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.
- Waiting until after your birthday month. Your Part B coverage then starts the following month, not the month you turn 65.
- Counting on COBRA or retiree coverage to protect you from the penalty. They don't count for the Special Enrollment Period.
- Skipping drug coverage. If you go 63 days or more in a row without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after your first window, you may owe a Part D late penalty (Medicare.gov).
- Trying to join a plan too early. You need both Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Applying through a look-alike website. Use SSA.gov.
After you apply: what happens next
- Your Medicare card arrives. Keep it safe. Your Medicare number and coverage start dates are on it, and you'll need them to join any plan (Medicare.gov).
- Think about drug coverage. Original Medicare doesn't include it. You can add a Medicare drug plan (Part D), choose a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, or keep other creditable drug coverage, like from a current employer. Compare the two paths in Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement.
- If you're thinking about a Medicare Supplement, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the 6 months that start the first day of the month you're 65 or older and signed up for Part B (Medicare.gov). Learn more in Medicare Supplement plans in Utah.
- Need help paying costs? See Medicare Savings Programs in Utah.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for Medicare?
You apply for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security. Apply online at SSA.gov, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or contact your local Social Security office. If you already get Social Security benefits at least 4 months before turning 65, you're enrolled automatically and don't need to apply.
When can I apply for Medicare?
You can apply during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after. If you sign up before your birthday month, Part B starts the month you turn 65. If you have coverage from a current job, you may be able to sign up later.
Can I apply for Medicare online?
Yes. If you're 65 or older, you can apply online at SSA.gov for Part A and Part B, or Part A only. If you already have Part A, you can sign up for Part B only online. You'll need a my Social Security account, and you can check your application status online too.
What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?
Social Security asks for your Social Security number, your place of birth, and the start and end dates of any current group health plans and any group plans since you turned 65. To sign up for Part B only, you also need an email address and your Medicare number.
Is Medicare automatic at 65?
It's automatic only if you're getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65. Then you get Part A and Part B, and your card arrives about 3 months before coverage starts. If you're not getting those benefits yet, you have to sign up.
How long does it take to get my Medicare card?
If you sign up yourself, Medicare.gov says your welcome package with your card comes about 2 weeks after you sign up. If you're enrolled automatically, the card comes about 3 months before your coverage starts. You can check your application status online with Social Security.
What are the 3 ways to apply for Medicare in Utah?
Apply with Social Security online at SSA.gov/medicare/sign-up, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or at a local Social Security office found with the SSA office locator. If you already get Social Security benefits at least 4 months before 65, you are usually enrolled automatically.
Where can I get help after I apply for Medicare in Utah?
Compare options on Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). Local Area Agencies on Aging include Mountainland (Utah County) at 801-229-3800 and Five County AAA in St. George at 435-673-3548. Our Utah team can also review options by phone or video at 801-255-5341 (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm MT; TTY 711).
Where is the Social Security office in Salt Lake City?
Use Social Security's office locator at ssa.gov/locator and enter your ZIP code. It lists the offices that serve your area in Salt Lake City and the rest of Utah. You can also skip the trip: apply online at SSA.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213.
Do I have to sign up for Part B if I'm still working?
Not always. If you or your spouse have group health coverage from a current job, you can usually wait. You'll have 8 months after that coverage or job ends to sign up without a penalty. COBRA and retiree coverage don't count. Ask your employer's benefits office how its plan works with Medicare.
Questions? Talk with our Utah team
You apply with Social Security, but you don't have to work out your choices alone. Our Draper-based team has been licensed since 2014 and has helped more than 1,000 Utahns with Medicare. We have 170+ 5-Star Google Reviews.
You can also compare plans on Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). Local Area Agencies on Aging are listed above under After you apply.
Book a phone or video call, or call us during office hours.
Call 801-255-5341Book a phone or video callMon–Fri 9am–5pm MT · TTY 711
Serving Utah residents. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 9 organizations which offer 58 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Related guides
Sources
- Social Security, Sign up for Medicare
- Medicare.gov, How do I sign up for Medicare?
- Medicare.gov, When does Medicare coverage start?
- Medicare.gov, Joining a plan
- Medicare.gov, When can I buy a Medigap policy?
- Medicare.gov, How much does Medicare drug coverage cost?
- Medicare.gov, Avoid late enrollment penalties
- CMS, Form CMS-40B and Form CMS-L564
- Utah DHHS, Aging & Adult Services
Last updated: October 20, 2026.