Medicare Enrollment: How to Sign Up for Medicare
Learn what you need to know about Medicare enrollment & beyond
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What are the Different Enrollment Periods in Medicare?
Navigating your Medicare enrollment can feel complicated, but it all comes down to timing. Medicare has specific timeframes, called enrollment periods, when you can sign up for coverage for Original Medicare or private Medicare plans, or make changes to your existing plan. Understanding which period applies to you is the key to avoiding coverage gaps and potential penalties.
The main enrollment periods you need to know are:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This is your first and most important window to sign up for Medicare when you first become eligible.
- Open Enrollment Period (OEP): This is the annual period for current Medicare beneficiaries to review and change their coverage for the upcoming year.
- General Enrollment Period (GEP): This is a specific time for those who missed their Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and Part B.
Below, we'll break down what each of these periods means for you.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) - How to Enroll in Medicare
Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7-month window when you can first sign up for Medicare. You can sign up for Medicare Part A, Part B, Medicare Supplement, Part D or Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage). Though you cannot sign up for both Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage. For most people, this period begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month of your 65th birthday, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. For example, if your 65th birthday is in June, your IEP runs from March 1 to September 30.
What’s great about your Initial Enrollment Period is that if you enroll in Original Medicare (namely Part B) you can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan without underwriting, guaranteeing you coverage. Learn more about Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment Period below.
Recommended Reading
5 Things To Know About The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period
How to Enroll During Your IEP
- Automatic Enrollment: If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you will likely be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B automatically. Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail about 3 months before your 65th birthday.
- Manual Enrollment: If you are not yet receiving Social Security or RRB benefits, you will need to sign up for Medicare yourself. You can do this:
- Online at the Social Security Administration (SSA) website: SSA.gov
- By calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213
- By visiting your local Social Security office to find out how to check Medicare eligibility and enroll
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Late Enrollment Penalties
It is critical to enroll in Medicare during your IEP if you are not covered by other creditable health insurance (like a plan from a current employer). If you delay enrollment in Part B or Part D, you may face late enrollment penalties, which are added to your monthly premiums for as long as you have the coverage.
Part A Penalty
If you have to buy Part A and you don't buy it when you're first eligible for Medicare, your monthly premium may go up 10%. You'll have to pay this penalty for twice the number of years you didn't sign up. For instance, if you waited two years to sign up, you'll have to pay the penalty for four years.
Note: Most people qualify for premium-free Part A, so this would not apply in those cases.
Part B Penalty
The Part B late enrollment penalty is an extra 10% of the standard monthly premium for each year that someone delays enrolling in Part B after becoming eligible, unless they have a Special Enrollment Period. You will have to pay this penalty for as long as you have Medicare Part B.
Part D Penalty
The Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty occurs when you do not join a Medicare drug plan when you first get Medicare, and go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage — coverage that's similar in value to Part D.
General Enrollment Period (GEP)
The General Enrollment Period is for individuals who did not sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B during their Initial Enrollment Period and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- When is it? The GEP runs from January 1 to March 31 each year.
- When does coverage start? If you enroll during the GEP, your coverage will begin on the first day of the month after you sign up.
Important: Late enrollment penalties may apply if you enroll in Medicare for the first time during the GEP.
Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
This is the best time to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. It's a 6-month period that starts on the first day of the month in which you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During this time, insurance carriers cannot use medical underwriting to decide whether to sell you a policy or how much to charge you.
Medigap Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (also officially known as the Annual Enrollment Period or Annual Election Period) is your chance each year to review your current coverage and make changes. Your health needs and plan options can change, so it's a good idea to re-evaluate your plan every year.
- When is it? The Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7 every year.
- What can you do? During this time, you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.
- Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Any changes you make will take effect on January 1 of the following year.
Recommended Reading
The Essential Guide to Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment
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Special Enrollment Periods
Life changes can happen at any time, and Medicare has provisions for that. A Special Enrollment Period allows you to make changes to your Medicare coverage outside of the standard enrollment periods due to specific life events. You generally have a limited time to act after the event occurs.
Common qualifying life events for an SEP include:
- Losing your employer-sponsored health coverage.
- Moving to a new address that is outside your current plan's service area.
- Moving into or out of a long-term care facility, like a nursing home.
- Qualifying for Extra Help with your Medicare prescription drug costs.
Other Enrollment Periods
Life changes can happen at any time, and Medicare has provisions for that. A Special Enrollment Period allows you to make changes to your Medicare coverage outside of the standard enrollment periods due to specific life events. You generally have a limited time to act after the event occurs.
Common qualifying life events for an SEP include:
- Losing your employer-sponsored health coverage.
- Moving to a new address that is outside your current plan's service area.
- Moving into or out of a long-term care facility, like a nursing home.
- Qualifying for Extra Help with your Medicare prescription drug costs.
What Do I Need to Enroll in Medicare?
When you're ready to sign up for Medicare through the Social Security Administration, it's helpful to have some information handy. Be prepared to provide:
- Your Social Security number
- Your date and place of birth
- Your citizenship status
- The start and end dates of any current group health plan coverage you have through your or your spouse's employment.
Recommended Reading
INFOGRAPHIC: 7 Things To Know Before Starting Medicare
How to Prepare for Medicare Enrollment
Taking a few simple steps before your enrollment period begins can make the process much smoother.
- Know Your Timeline: Mark your calendar with the start and end dates of your Initial Enrollment Period.
- Assess Your Health Needs: Make a list of your doctors, specialists, and any prescription drugs you take. This will be crucial for comparing plans.
- Evaluate Your Budget: Think about what you can comfortably afford for monthly premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
Understand Your Options: Learn the fundamental differences between Original Medicare (Parts A & B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans.
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