Becoming eligible to sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 is a rite of passage in the American retirement. However, unlike applying for Social Security benefits, the process of signing up for Medicare is more rigid and has more rules and consequential deadlines. After all, Medicare requires you to pay premiums monthly, while Social Security pays a deposit to you each month.
Medicare plays a crucial role in covering the healthcare costs for the 70.0 million beneficiaries, of whom 90.7% are 65 and older, according to the Medicare Monthly Enrollment data for January 2026.
