I think you have to apply for Medicare. There are penalties associated with filing late.
Is Medicare mandatory?
Medicare is a federal benefit that you pay for through taxes during your working years. At age 65, or if you have certain disabilities, you become eligible for health coverage through various parts of the Medicare program.
While Medicare isn’t necessarily mandatory, it is automatically offered in some situations, and may take some effort to opt out of.Are there penalties if you don’t enroll in Medicare when you are eligible?
The penalties for choosing not to enroll in Medicare, or enrolling late, can be just as confusing as figuring out which parts of the program are mandatory. The penalty levels for not enrolling when you are first eligible for Medicare, again, depend on the program.