One of the benefits of signing up for Medicare compared to traditional insurance plans is simplicity. With traditional medical insurance, the insurance provider requests many documents or may even require you to get a physical before you can enroll. The Medicare application is streamlined so you can complete the application entirely online without having to attach any medical documents or completing extra forms.

If you are under the age of 65, you may only apply for Medicare if you have a disability. Even with a disability, you must have received benefits in the last two years from either the Social Security office or Railroad Retirement Board.

As long as you meet the base requirements, you can quickly apply for Medicare coverage. If you received disability benefits for at least two years, you will automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare coverage, which includes Part A and B.

If you were recently diagnosed with ALS, you will automatically become eligible for Medicare even if you have not received any previous disability payments. Your coverage will begin the same month your first disability benefit arrives.

While you are automatically eligible for Medicare, you do not need to accept it. Medicare Part A is free, but you may wish to turn it down if you plan on getting Medicare Part C, as the two plans are typically not compatible.

Medicare Part B has a small monthly premium, which is still less expensive than other insurance.

However, if you do not believe it has any essential services, you can choose not to purchase it. In these circumstances, you can apply for Part B coverage at a later point during open enrollment.

There is a small fee added to you premium if you choose to apply for coverage after your initial enrollment, so you are strongly encouraged to purchase both plans together.

The application process for Medicare only requires submitting a single online application. To apply for coverage, all you need to do is:

• Log in to the Social Security Administration website to access the Medicare application portal.
• Open the application and fill out the necessary information. While you do not need medical documents, make sure you have all the necessary information to confirm your identity, such as your Social Security number.
• After filling out the application, click submit and it is automatically filled. If you apply during the open enrollment period, it typically takes two to three weeks for your application to process. After open enrollment takes longer, around four to six weeks.

If you become eligible for Medicare insurance outside of the open enrollment, you can apply for a special enrollment period without paying any fees.

This is also available if you experience a major change in your current insurance, such as losing health benefits from your job.