Initial Enrollment
The Initial Enrollment Period1 is the first Medicare enrollment period you will experience. This will begin three months before your 65th birthday month and will last for a total of seven months, ending three months after your 65th birthday.
This period marks when you first become eligible for Medicare so it’s important that you enroll during this period instead of waiting past this period. If you go throughout this seven-month period without enrolling in Medicare, you will face late enrollment penalties when you do decide to enroll.
General Enrollment
If you did delay your enrollment, you can enroll in Medicare for the first time during the General Enrollment Period1 (January 1 - March 31). However, because you delayed your enrollment up to this period, you will pay late enrollment penalties.
Special Enrollment
It is possible to delay your enrollment and avoid late enrollment penalties if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period1. You can qualify due to certain circumstances, such as already having creditable coverage when you become eligible for Medicare.
Annual Enrollment
The Annual Enrollment Period2 (October 15 - December 7) is only open to those who are already enrolled in Medicare. This period will allow you to review your current Medicare coverage and make changes to suit your needs. For example, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you can use this period to switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or drop your plan and stay with Original Medicare.
Disclosure: Our firm is not permitted to offer and no statement made during this presentation shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or any governmental agency.
1 https://www.medicare.gov/blog/medicare-enrollment-period-2020
Need to Enroll? Give Us a Call
We understand that Medicare can be confusing, but that’s why we’re to help. We will walk you through the entire enrollment process so you can get the coverage you need and at the right time!
