It is critical that you enroll in medicare when you first become eligible. Your initial enrollment period when you turn 65 is 7 months long. It begins 3 months prior to the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. For example, if your birthday is June 15th, you will have from March 1 until Oct 31 to enroll. If you do not enroll when you are eligible it is possible you will be penalized when you do enroll.
During the initial enrollment period you can also enroll in a medicare advantage plan or a medicare supplement plan as well as a prescription drug plan. You must have credible prescription drug coverage within 63 days of the end of your initial enrollment period or you will be penalized when you do enroll in a prescription drug plan.
For those that continue to work and have coverage through an employer sponsored plan, you can choose do delay enrollment without penalty. If this is the case, it is necessary to check with your benefit administrator at your employer to see if they would like you to enroll in medicare.
Each year there is an Annual enrollment period in which you can make changes to your medicare coverage. This annual enrollment period runs from October 15th thru December 7th. During the annual enrollment period you can enroll or make changes to a medicare advantage plan or prescription drug plan.
There is also an annual disenrollment period where you may change back to original medicare from a medicare advantage plan if you so choose. Annual disenrollment runs from January 1 to February 14th. If you choose to return to original medicare you will have until February 14th to enroll in a prescription drug plan since original medicare does not include prescription drugs.
During the initial enrollment period you can also enroll in a medicare advantage plan or a medicare supplement plan as well as a prescription drug plan. You must have credible prescription drug coverage within 63 days of the end of your initial enrollment period or you will be penalized when you do enroll in a prescription drug plan.
For those that continue to work and have coverage through an employer sponsored plan, you can choose do delay enrollment without penalty. If this is the case, it is necessary to check with your benefit administrator at your employer to see if they would like you to enroll in medicare.
Each year there is an Annual enrollment period in which you can make changes to your medicare coverage. This annual enrollment period runs from October 15th thru December 7th. During the annual enrollment period you can enroll or make changes to a medicare advantage plan or prescription drug plan.
There is also an annual disenrollment period where you may change back to original medicare from a medicare advantage plan if you so choose. Annual disenrollment runs from January 1 to February 14th. If you choose to return to original medicare you will have until February 14th to enroll in a prescription drug plan since original medicare does not include prescription drugs.
Between: October 15- December 7
- Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
- Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
- Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
- Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
- Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely. (beware if you do not have prescription drug coverage you may be penalized when you purchase a prescription plan)
January 1—Coverage Begins
- Your new coverage begins if you switched to a new plan. If you stay with the same plan, any changes to coverage, benefits, or costs for the new year will begin on January 1.
Between January 1–February 14
- Switch back to original medicare and leave your medicare advantage plan (you will need to enroll in a prescription drug plan before Feb 14th since original medicare does not provide prescription drug coverage)
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