The answer
Do I have to sign up for Medicare?
Not always, but many people are enrolled automatically.
If you are already getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you are usually enrolled in Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (doctor and outpatient coverage) automatically. If you are not yet getting Social Security, you generally need to sign up yourself during your Initial Enrollment Period, the seven-month window around your 65th birthday. Signing up is not always required, since some people delay Part B if they have qualifying coverage from a current employer. But if you wait without qualifying coverage, you may owe a late enrollment penalty, an amount added to your premium for as long as you have it. Whether you must enroll depends on your current coverage and your situation.