Commissioner of Social Security, today joined award-winning actress Patty Duke and the cast of her hit 1960s sitcom, The Patty Duke Show, to unveil Social Security’s newest online service – an application for Medicare benefits.  This new online application, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is for people reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65 who want to delay filing for Social Security retirement benefits.  Currently about a half million Americans enroll in Medicare each year without applying for monthly benefits.

“Social Security’s online services are the best in all of government and exceed the top private sector companies in customer satisfaction,” Commissioner Astrue said.  “The new Medicare application is a welcome addition to our suite of online services and will make it easier than ever to sign up for Medicare.  I am thrilled that Patty Duke has once again volunteered to help us get the word out.  The fact that this time her TV family has joined her makes this even more special and I thank William Schallert, Eddie Applegate, and Paul O’Keefe for their service to America.  I also want to thank Dr. David Kessler, former FDA Commissioner, who appeared with Patty as a befuddled family physician in some of our spots.”

To apply online for Medicare, go to www.socialsecurity.gov and choose Retirement/Medicare under the header, “Select Below To Apply For.”  You will be asked a brief series of questions.  If you have a question or need additional information, there are convenient “more info” links.  When you’re done, just select the “Sign Now” button to submit the application.  There are no paper forms to sign, and usually no additional documents are required.  If more information is needed, Social Security will contact you by phone or letter.

For a variety of reasons, more and more Americans are choosing to delay receiving Social Security retirement benefits past the Medicare eligibility age of 65.  Although the age to collect full retirement benefits used to be age 65, it is now age 66 for individuals just becoming eligible for retirement benefits and will eventually become age 67.  Benefits can be increased by up to 32 percent if someone delays receiving them until age 70.  To learn more, see our When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits fact sheet at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

“We are continuing to look for ways to improve our existing online services and to add new services that make it easy for people to do business with Social Security,” said Commissioner Astrue.  “Later this year, we will make our online Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator available in Spanish, a first for the federal government.  Providing the public with the best online services in the government and private sectors is one of our top priorities.”

To see all of Social Security’s online services, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

To view the new public service announcements featuring the cast of The Patty Duke Show, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.

Related posts:

1. New Enhancements to Online Retirement Estimator: Social Security Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the online Retirement Estimator, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator, now can provide immediate and personalized benefit estimates to people who have enrolled in Medicare but have not yet filed for Social Security benefits. Previously, these “Medicare only” beneficiaries would need to contact a local office in order to obtain an estimate of their benefits. Currently, about a half-million people file for Medicare each year and delay filing for Social Security benefits....
2. Internet Retirement Insurance Benefits Application Internet Retirement Insurance Benefits Application...
3. Apply Online for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs Apply Online for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs...
4. Internet Spouse’s Benefits Application Internet Spouse's Benefits Application...
5. Need a Replacement Card? Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online Need a Replacement Card? Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online...
6. Order a Medicare Replacement Card Online Need a Replacement Card? Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online If you lose or damage your Medicare card, you can obtain a replacement card from Social Security one of the following ways: Log into your MyMedicare.gov account. If you do not have a MyMedicare account, sign up now. Order Online by visiting the [...]...
7. Social Security Releases Open Government Plan – Medicare Card Information Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency has released its Open Government plan. The plan, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/open, reflects the agency’s commitment to increase transparency, expand opportunities for citizen participation and collaboration, and make open government sustainable at Social Security. ...
8. MedicareCard.com Finds Social Security Releases Open Government Plan Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency has released its Open Government plan.  The plan, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/open, reflects the agency’s commitment to increase transparency, expand opportunities for citizen participation and collaboration, and make open government sustainable at Social Security.  Three flagship initiatives are highlighted in the plan — the Spanish-Language Retirement Estimator, [...]...
9. Need a Replacement Card? Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online Need a Replacement Card? Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online...
10. How to Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online How to Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online...
11. Information and Instructions to Verify Social Security Numbers Online There are two Internet verification options you can use to verify that your employee names and Social Security numbers match Social Security's records. You can: Verify up to 10 names and SSNs (per screen) online and receive immediate results. This option is ideal to verify new hires....
12. CMS Home, Medicare, Medicare Contracting Reform, Overview CMS' mission is to ensure health care security for beneficiaries. A major component in achieving this mission is the successful administration of Original Medicare, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. Medicare Contracting Reform (or section 911 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, ...
13. Who is Eligible for Medicare Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren’t yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with [...]...
14. Economic Recovery Act Payment for 2010 Needed With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010. This will be the first year without an automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) since they went into effect in 1975....
15. How do providers enroll in Medicare by Mail CMS uses five different provider and supplier enrollment applications. In general, Part A providers are required to use the CMS-855A to enroll or update their enrollment information...