What is Medicare?

Medicare was created as part of the 1965 Amendments to Social Security  that created Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is Health Insurance Coverage (Hospital Part A and Medical Part B) for people 65 or older,  certain people under 65 with disabilities and people any age with End  Stage Renal Disease(ESRD). Your first chance to get Medicare usually begins 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after. But, there  are other Special Enrollment Periods(SEP’s) when you can enroll as well. 
 You can only enroll in Medicare at certain times and the cost can go up the longer you wait. Signing up late can mean a lifetime of penalties and  delays in when your coverage can start. Deciding to enroll is an important decision and largely depends upon the coverage you have now. If you are  already collecting Social Security or getting benefits from the Railroad  Retirement Board(RRB), you will be automatically enrolled.