Your Initial Enrollment Period
Your first chance to sign up is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It's 7 months long:
- The 3 months before the month you turn 65
- The month you turn 65
- The 3 months after the month you turn 65
When your coverage starts depends on when you sign up. If you sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month, coverage starts the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up in your birthday month or later, coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
If your birthday is on the first day of a month, your window and start date move one month earlier.
Medicare still starts at 65, even if your full retirement age for Social Security is later. You don't have to start Social Security to sign up for Medicare.
Will I be signed up automatically?
If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you'll be signed up for Part A and Part B automatically. Your Medicare card will come in the mail about 3 months before your birthday. If you have health coverage from a current job, you may be able to turn down Part B for now.
If you don't get Social Security benefits yet, you'll need to sign up yourself through Social Security. You can apply online at ssa.gov, call 1-800-772-1213, or visit a local Social Security office. If you worked for a railroad, contact the Railroad Retirement Board instead.
Avoid the Part B late penalty
If you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible, and you don't have qualifying coverage from a current job, you may pay a late enrollment penalty. It adds 10% to your Part B premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn't. You generally pay it for as long as you have Part B.
You may also wait months for coverage to start if you sign up late. Part D has its own late penalty too. Read about the Part D penalty.
Still working at 65?
If you or your spouse are still working and have health coverage through that job, you may be able to wait to sign up for Part B without a penalty. The rules depend on the size of the employer and the type of coverage. Read my guide to working past 65 and leaving employer coverage.
Medicare Supplement timing
If you're thinking about a Medicare Supplement plan, know about your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It's 6 months long and starts the first month you're 65 or older and have Part B. During that time, you can buy any Supplement plan sold in Georgia that you're eligible for, and companies can't turn you down or charge more because of your health. Learn about Supplement plans.
You can also join a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, once you have Part A and Part B.
A timeline to follow
These steps are based on your 65th birthday month.
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About 6 months before
Make a list of your doctors and prescriptions. If you're working, ask your benefits office how your coverage works with Medicare. Consider creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
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About 3 months before
Your Initial Enrollment Period opens. Sign up for Part A and Part B if you won't be enrolled automatically. This is a good time for us to compare plans.
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Your birthday month
If you signed up early, your Medicare starts on the first day of this month. If you have Part B, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins.
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The 3 months after
Your Initial Enrollment Period is still open, but coverage starts later the longer you wait. Keep your new cards handy, and plan to review your coverage each fall.
What to have ready when we talk
- A list of your doctors, specialists, and the hospitals you prefer
- Your prescriptions, with the dose and how often you take each one
- The pharmacy or pharmacies you use
- Information about any coverage you have now, such as an employer, retiree, VA, or TRICARE plan
- Any questions or worries you'd like to cover
You don't need your Medicare number to get started. We'll only use it if you decide to enroll in a plan.