What Happens When You Become Eligible For Medicare When You Are Outside The Country?
When you become eligible for Medicare while you are abroad, you do not need to go back to the U.S. to get enrolled. You can request the Medicare enrollment form from the United States Embassy in the country you live in.
When you become eligible, you will also receive a message from the Social Security Administration that you have reached the Initial Enrollment Period. The initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after your 65th birthday.
If you missed the Initial Enrollment Period, you can wait for the General Enrollment Period to get enrolled. The general enrollment period occurs between the 1st of January and the 31st of March. If you miss this period, you will have to wait for the next General Enrollment Period.