Medicare Enrollment Periods

Your Initial Enrollment Period

For most people first becoming eligible at 65, Medicare’s Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after.

Working past 65 changes the decision

If you or your spouse are still working and you are covered by a group health plan based on that current employment, you may be able to delay Part B without a late-enrollment penalty. Do not make that decision from age alone. Ask the employer how the plan coordinates with Medicare and whether Medicare would be primary.

If you are 65 or older and the employer providing coverage has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare warns that job-based insurance might not pay correctly if you do not have both Part A and Part B.

The 8-month Part B Special Enrollment Period

After qualifying current-employment coverage ends, you generally have an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B. That period can begin when the employment or job-based coverage ends, even if you choose COBRA afterward.

Annual Medicare Open Enrollment

October 15 through December 7 is Medicare Open Enrollment. During that period, people can make certain changes involving Medicare Advantage and Part D for coverage effective January 1.

Medigap has a different enrollment clock

Medigap does not have a universal annual open enrollment period. The federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months and begins the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Outside that period, guaranteed-issue rights depend on the situation and state protections can also matter.