New to Medicare
The Initial Enrollment Period is seven months around the month you turn 65, or around the month you first become eligible. That is not the same as the fall window. The turning 65 timeline walks through it month by month. The eligibility date tool uses the date you enter. It is not a determination from Social Security.
Already on Medicare
Annual Enrollment, October 15 through December 7, is the yearly window to change Medicare Advantage or Part D for January 1. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 through March 31 and allows one change. What Annual Enrollment changes is the fall list. What to check before October 15 is the preparation.
A job, a move, or a Supplement
Losing employer coverage can open a Special Enrollment Period. COBRA usually does not extend it. Read still working at 65 before you delay Part B. A Supplement follows different rules. In California, the Birthday Rule is for people who already have Medigap. Other Special Enrollment Periods depend on facts this page cannot see.
Let the worksheet sort the dates
The enrollment window worksheet asks whether you already have Medicare, whether you have Advantage or a Supplement, and whether you still have job coverage. It shows which windows may apply to the date you enter. It cannot see a move, Extra Help, or a trial right. Confirm the one that fits on Medicare.gov or with Social Security.
Common questions
- I am turning 65 in November. Do I wait for October 15?
- Not necessarily. Your Initial Enrollment Period is tied to your 65th birthday, or to the month you first become eligible. October 15 is the yearly window for people who already have Medicare.
- Why does the worksheet ask about a spouse’s job coverage?
- Coverage from a current employer, including a spouse’s employer, can change whether you may delay Part B. The size of the employer and the type of coverage matter. Confirm that with the employer and with Social Security.
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