Remember how you felt when you were 5 months away from turning 16...or 21?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. You can apply three months in advance of the month in which you turn 65,

so if your birthday is 4/9 your coverage starts April 1. Part A is free, Part B is about $100/mo. I chose both because A is just hospitalization. I am still looking into a supplemental plan because A and B together don't cover everything (like dental). There is a lot of good info on the web site about what it does and does not cover. The supplemental stuff is confusing, and you will soon be deluged with advertisements. I will be avoiding Humana: http://www.startribune.com/business/228346871.html

(I also applied for Social Security at the same time (a year early, but I can use the $$), and the whole process took less than 10 minutes on line. And then - while the government was shut down, mind you - I got a phone call from a very helpful guy in the SS office to give me some helpful information that I didn't know. And my first check was in my bank account three days later. While the government was shut down. I was really impressed.)