Turning 65 soon? Your Medicare enrollment window explained

If you are approaching 65, your mailbox is probably filling up with Medicare mail. Before any of it matters, one date matters most: your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

The seven-month window

Your IEP lasts seven months:

• It starts three months before the month you turn 65
• It includes your birthday month
• It ends three months after your birthday month

Example: if you turn 65 in June, your window runs from March 1 through September 30.

Why the timing matters

Enrolling during the first three months generally means your coverage can start the month you turn 65. Enrolling later in the window can delay your start date — and missing the window entirely can mean waiting for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) and, for Part B, a late-enrollment penalty that raises your premium for as long as you have it.

Still working at 65?

If you (or your spouse) are still working and you have qualifying employer coverage from a company with 20 or more employees, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. When that coverage ends, a Special Enrollment Period opens. The rules here are specific, so it is worth confirming your situation before assuming you can wait.

A simple checklist

1. Mark the start of your seven-month window on a calendar.
2. Decide whether you will keep employer coverage or enroll at 65.
3. Review Parts A, B, C and D before you choose — each part covers something different.
4. Ask questions early. Talking it through costs nothing.

This article is for general education only and is not advice for your situation. IAM Money Management is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. For official information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.