India, Feb. 1 -- Medicare provides health insurance for over 66 million Americans who are 65 and older. Some younger individuals with qualifying impairments or certain medical illnesses, including End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), are also covered by Medicare.

These Americans can begin enrolling in Medicare online today, using the U.S. government's secure systems.

The first and foremost step is to open a "my Social Security" account on the SSA website if you don't already have one. This secure portal lets you manage your benefits and see enrolment options.

You will need certain documents to apply for Medicare benefits online. Here's the list of documents and information to keep handy:

Once you have...