I applied for Medicare before I applied for Social Security. I did go to the Social Security office for that because there was some kind of timing issue; they couldn’t have been any nicer or more helpful. There was no line at all on a random weekday afternoon. I signed up for SS online when I reached full retirement age. It was easy. It took a little while to get confirmation by mail but all was in place by the time my first payment was due. I still marvel every month when I see that $$ hit my bank account; I know I earned it but it feels like a present.