Medicare Enrollment Periods

If you’re about to become Medicare eligible, you need to make some decisions about your health care coverage. This is because if you wait to enroll until after the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a penalty and there may be a gap in your coverage.

Once you’ve decided what parts of Medicare you would like to enroll in, it’s time to figure out when your plan’s enrollment period is.

When is the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period?

Your initial enrollment period begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after your 65th birthday month.

This happens with one exception: if your birthday is on the first of the month. This will cause your enrollment period to begin one month early.

For example: if your birthday is October 1, your enrollment period will begin June 1 and your Medicare will begin one month early as well — September 1.

During your initial enrollment period, you can enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and B), Medicare Advantage plan, or Medicare Part D.

If you’re about to become Medicare eligible, you need to make some decisions about your health care coverage. This is because if you wait to enroll until after the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a penalty and there may be a gap in your coverage.

Once you’ve decided what parts of Medicare you would like to enroll in, it’s time to figure out when your plan’s enrollment period is.

When is the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period?

Your initial enrollment period begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after your 65th birthday month.

This happens with one exception: if your birthday is on the first of the month. This will cause your enrollment period to begin one month early.

For example: if your birthday is October 1, your enrollment period will begin June 1 and your Medicare will begin one month early as well — September 1.

During your initial enrollment period, you can enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and B), Medicare Advantage plan, or Medicare Part D.