The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window to enroll in Parts A and B for the first time when you turn 65. You have 3 months before you turn 65, the month of, and 3 months after to enroll in Medicare. When you enroll in the 3 months after your 65th birth month, your coverage starts the 1st of the following month after you apply. This same 7-month window is also used to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.

If you missed your IEP and don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, you can sign up for Original Medicare during the General Enrollment Period (GEP). This runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. Your Medicare Part B will be effective the 1st of the following month after you submit your application.

Don’t be fooled into thinking the GEP is a safety net, so you don’t have to worry about your IEP. Even though you can enroll in Original Medicare during this time, you are still subject to the late enrollment penalties.

Keep in mind that the General Enrollment Period only applies to Original Medicare. If you want a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D coverage for prescription drugs, you’ll have to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period.

The Medicare program also gives you a window of opportunity to change your mind about a Medicare Advantage plan. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and for any reason you don’t like it, you can disenroll during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period from January 1 – March 31.

You can:

• Return to Original Medicare and elect a Part D drug plan to go alongside it

• Switch Medicare Advantage plans once

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Keep in mind that if you return to Original Medicare and plan on picking up a Medigap plan, that is not guaranteed. In many circumstances, you may have to answer health questions for the Medigap plan, and the carrier does not have to accept you.

This enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this time, individuals with Medicare can make changes to their health and drug plans. Changes such as switching to a new Medicare Advantage plan, adding or dropping a prescription drug plan, switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or switching from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare with the option of a prescription drug plan. These changes generally go into effect on January 1st of the following year. 

The Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is an eight-month period that begins either the month you or your spouse quit working or the month your group coverage ends, whichever comes first.

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There are certain situations that will trigger a Special Election Period (SEP) for a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan that are specific to you.

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A Medicare Special Election Period is usually a two-month window during which you can change your coverage due to a special circumstance. For example, moving outside the plan’s service area will qualify you for a Special Election Period.

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You can use the SEP to switch to a new Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. Likewise, you can return to Original Medicare without penalty. You can sometimes also enroll in Medigap under guaranteed issue rights with no medical underwriting, but this rule varies by state.

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There are also other situations in which you may be eligible for a Special Election Period. Please feel free to contact me to learn what SEP options are available.

When you first enroll in Medicare Part B, you have 6 months from your Part B effective date to enroll in a Medigap Plan without answering health questions. While your plan cannot start earlier than your Part B effective date, you can apply ahead of time so that it starts on the same day as Part B.  If you are outside of this window, and do not have a qualifying event, you may have to answer health questions to enroll in a Medigap plan.