How long after mailing my Social Security and Medicare application will I get my Medicare card?

took me like 6 wks to get my card after i mailed my stuff in. but that was during covid so maybe faster now

Congrats on retirement! When I applied last year the Medicare card came about 3-4 weeks after I mailed my application. The actual benefit approval letter for SS took a little longer though.

Social Security typically processes mailed applications for retirement benefits within 2-4 weeks, but it can sometimes take up to 6 weeks depending on workload. For Medicare enrollment, your card should arrive approximately 3-4 weeks after your application is processed. Some important things to note: 1. You can check your application status online by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount 2. Medicare coverage automatically begins the first day of your birthday month if you're turning 65 (even if your card hasn't physically arrived yet) 3. If you're within 30 days of needing to use your Medicare and haven't received your card, you should contact Social Security directly Hope this helps with your timeline expectations!

My experience was NOT good. I mailed my application in January and didn't hear ANYTHING for 8 weeks!!! When I finally got through to someone they said they had NO RECORD of receiving it!! Had to start all over again. The system is BROKEN. I recommend going in person even if you have to wait all day. At least you know they got it!!!

The timeline varies but generally: - Processing time: 3-5 weeks for mailed applications - Medicare card arrival: Usually 2-3 weeks after processing is complete - Total time: Typically 5-8 weeks from mailing to receiving your Medicare card If you need to check your application status before your card arrives, you have three options: 1. Create a my Social Security account online (fastest) 2. Visit your local field office in person (bring ID) 3. Call the national number at 1-800-772-1213 (prepare for wait times) Since your birthday is coming up in 2.5 months, you should be fine with the typical timeline. If you don't receive confirmation within 4 weeks of mailing, I'd recommend following up.

I was in a similar situation last year and had incredible trouble reaching anyone at SSA by phone. After days of trying, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at Social Security in under 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I was able to verify they received my application and get an estimate of when I'd receive my Medicare card. Saved me so much stress since I needed my Medicare info for a scheduled procedure.

did u sign up for part D too? cuz thats separate from the regular medicare and u need to do that with a different form i think. my brother missed that part when he turned 65 and had to pay a penalty later on

btw my cousin never got her card and had to go to the office. they gave her a printout she could use until the real card came. so thats an option if ur in a hurry

To follow up on the Part D question - you don't need a separate application form, but you do need to select a Part D plan through a private insurer (if you went with Original Medicare rather than Medicare Advantage). You can do this through the Medicare Plan Finder on medicare.gov. Regarding your original timeline question, one thing that might help speed things up: if you haven't already, create your my Social Security account online and check if your application appears there. Sometimes the online system shows it's been received before you get any mail confirmation.

Does anyone know if they NOTIFY you if they reject your application?? Or do they just ignore it? I'm so tired of dealing with government bureaucracy!!!

I went through this exact same process about 8 months ago! Here's what I learned: the timeline can really vary depending on your local SSA office's workload. Mine took about 5 weeks total - 3 weeks to process and then another 2 weeks for the Medicare card to arrive in the mail. One tip that really helped me: about 2 weeks after mailing, I called the main SSA number (1-800-772-1213) early in the morning around 8 AM when they first open. The wait times were much shorter then compared to calling later in the day. They were able to confirm they received my application and give me a rough timeline. Also, don't panic if your Medicare card doesn't arrive exactly on time - your coverage still starts on the first day of your birthday month regardless. I actually used my temporary Medicare number (which they can give you over the phone) for a doctor's appointment before my physical card arrived. Good luck with everything, and congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago! From what I experienced and what I've heard from others, you're looking at roughly 4-6 weeks total from mailing to getting your Medicare card in hand. A few things that might help ease your mind: - Your Medicare coverage actually begins the first day of the month you turn 65, regardless of whether your physical card has arrived yet - You can get a temporary Medicare number over the phone if you need it for appointments before your card arrives - The SSA office can print you a temporary Medicare card if you really need something physical to show providers Since you mailed it last Tuesday and you have 2.5 months until your 65th birthday, you should be well within the safe zone timing-wise. I'd recommend checking your my Social Security account online in about 2 weeks to see if your application shows up in the system - that's usually the first sign they've received and started processing it. Don't stress too much about it - the system works, it's just slow! And congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

I'm going through something similar right now! I submitted my application online about 3 weeks ago and just got my approval letter yesterday. From what I understand, the Medicare card usually follows within 1-2 weeks after the approval letter arrives. One thing that really helped me was setting up text notifications through my Social Security account - they'll send you updates when there are changes to your application status. Also, if you're worried about timing, you can always call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE once your application is approved to get your Medicare number over the phone if you need it before the physical card arrives. The waiting is definitely stressful, but it sounds like you have plenty of time before your 65th birthday! Hang in there - you should be all set well before you need it.

I work at a local SSA field office and can give you some insight into the process. Mailed applications typically take 2-3 weeks just to be entered into our system, then another 2-3 weeks for processing. Your Medicare card is usually mailed out about 1-2 weeks after approval. Since you mailed yours last Tuesday, you're looking at roughly 5-7 weeks total timeline, which puts you well ahead of your 65th birthday. A few tips: 1. Check your my Social Security account online after 3 weeks - that's when mailed apps usually show up in the system 2. If you need to call, try between 8-9 AM on weekdays for shorter wait times 3. Your Medicare coverage is effective the first day of your birth month regardless of when your card arrives 4. We can provide temporary documentation if needed before your card arrives Don't worry about not sending it certified mail - we process thousands of mailed applications and very few get lost. The system is slower than we'd like, but it works. You should be all set well before your birthday!

Just went through this exact process myself! I mailed my application in October and received my Medicare card about 5 weeks later. The timing worked out perfectly since I turned 65 in December. One thing that really helped was creating the online account like others mentioned - I could track the progress and it showed up in the system about 2.5 weeks after I mailed it. Also, when I called to check on the status (used the 8 AM tip someone shared), they were able to give me my Medicare number over the phone so I could give it to my doctor's office before the physical card arrived. You're definitely in good shape with 2.5 months to go! The most stressful part is just the waiting and not knowing, but once it gets into their system you'll have much better visibility into the timeline.

I'm currently going through the Medicare enrollment process myself and found this thread really helpful! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my benefits counselor - if you're currently on an employer health plan, make sure you understand how the timing works with dropping that coverage versus when your Medicare kicks in. My HR department told me that some people accidentally create a gap in coverage by dropping their employer plan too early, or they end up with overlapping coverage and pay double premiums for a month or two. Since your Medicare coverage starts the first day of your birth month regardless of when the card arrives, you want to coordinate the timing carefully. Also, I second what others said about calling early in the morning - I got through in about 15 minutes when I called right at 8 AM, versus over an hour wait when I tried calling in the afternoon. Good luck with everything, and it sounds like you're well ahead of the timeline!

I just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same process about 3 months ago! I mailed my Social Security and Medicare application in late November and received my Medicare card in early January - so about 6 weeks total. Here's what helped me during the waiting period: 1. I set up my Social Security online account about 2 weeks after mailing, and my application showed up in the system around the 3-week mark 2. Called the 1-800-772-1213 number at exactly 8 AM on a Tuesday and only waited about 10 minutes (versus the hour+ waits I experienced calling later in the day) 3. They were able to confirm receipt and give me a timeline over the phone The most stressful part was just the uncertainty, but once I could see the application in my online account, I felt much better. Your timeline sounds perfect with 2.5 months to go - I had much less time and everything worked out fine! One tip: if your doctor needs Medicare info before your card arrives, Social Security can give you your Medicare number over the phone once your application is approved. That was a lifesaver for me since I had a scheduled appointment. Don't worry too much about the mailed application - the vast majority get processed without issues. You should be all set well before your 65th birthday!