Medicare Enrollment Dates

When can you sign up for Medicare or make changes to your plan? That depends. 

Like other kinds of health insurance, Medicare has dedicated enrollment periods, both for when you’re new to the program and for when you need to make a change. Here are seven of the most common signup windows.

Initial Enrollment Period

Your first chance to get Medicare is the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). It runs for 7 months surrounding your 65th birthday:

• For most people, the IEP starts 3 months before the month they turn 65 and ends 3 months after that month.
  • Ex: an October 20 birthday means an IEP from July 1 to January 31.
• For people with birthdays on the 1st of the month, the IEP starts 4 months before their 65th birthday month and ends 2 months after that.
  • Ex: an October 1 birthday means an IEP from June 1 to December 31.

If you wait to sign up for Medicare until outside of your IEP, you may have late penalties for Part B and Part D when you eventually enroll. 

As you get closer to eligibility, start thinking about when you need to enroll to avoid late fees and get the coverage you need.

Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Medigap, also called Medicare supplement insurance, is a plan that you can buy to cover some of the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare (Part A + Part B), like the Part B coinsurance of 20%. But there are limits on enrollment.

You can enroll in Medigap for the first time during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which runs for 6 months, starting the 1st of the month when you’re 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

• Ex: You turn 65 in August but enrolled in Part B in May as part of your IEP. Your initial Medigap signup window runs from September 1 to February 28.

The Medigap enrollment window is important because it allows you to buy any Medigap policy that’s available to you without worrying about your medical history. 

Unlike Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, which don’t take your medical history into account, Medigap plans are allowed to set higher rates or deny an application altogether based on medical underwriting. That means looking at your medical history and current health and seeing if they want to insure you.

But during your 6-month initial signup window, that’s not an issue. 

You have guaranteed-issue rights, meaning you can sign up for any plan that’s available to you and pay the same rate as anyone else your age enrolling in that same plan.

Once that initial window closes, you lose that guaranteed-issue right, at least at the federal level. Some states may have different rules. But generally, Medigap plans are allowed to use medical underwriting once that initial signup period ends.

That could mean higher premiums for the same coverage, or it could mean you don’t get to enroll in a Medigap plan at all. Take advantage of your initial Medigap signup window if you need the coverage.

General Enrollment Period

If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, your next chance to enroll in Medicare for the first time is the General Enrollment Period (GEP):

• January 1 – March 31
• Enroll in Part A and/or Part B for the first time

Keep in mind that you may have late penalties added to your coverage if you sign up for the first time during the GEP.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

If you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP):

• January 1 – March 31
• Make a one-time change to your coverage

The MA OEP lets you change from one MA plan to another or return to Original Medicare. And if you decide to return to Original Medicare, you can enroll in a Part D plan as well.

You can make one change only during MA OEP, unlike during Annual Enrollment (described below). 

Annual Enrollment Period

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) gives everyone with Medicare the chance to update their coverage for the following year. It runs from October 15 – December 7 each year. Any changes you make take effect on January 1.

Annual Enrollment may not be your only chance to change your coverage, but it is a guaranteed window that everyone with Medicare can use, whether you have Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. 

During AEP, you can:

• Change from one Medicare Advantage (MA) plan to another
• Enroll in an MA plan for the first time if you have Original Medicare
• Go back to Original Medicare if you have an MA plan
• Add, change, or drop Part D coverage

You can also make as many adjustments as you need during AEP. If, for example, you sign up for a new Part D plan and then later learn about a different option from a friend, you can drop the plan you just enrolled in and enroll in the new plan. 

Because changes don’t take effect until the new year, you have flexibility. Just remember to finalize your choices before AEP ends.

5-Star Enrollment Period

Each year, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) based on quality using a star system, from 1 to 5 stars. 

Not every area has a 5-star plan. But if one is available where you live and you want to enroll in it, you have a chance to do that each year during the 5-Star Enrollment Period:

• December 8 — November 30
• Enroll in a 5-star plan available in your area

Just keep in mind that highly rated plans don’t necessarily mean they cover everything you need. When looking at coverage, consider your needs and budget first, and then look at star ratings. 

Special Enrollment Period

Of course, these set enrollment periods don’t cover every situation. You may continue working past age 65, or you might move, or lose access to your current plan. Different scenarios mean you may need to get Medicare coverage outside of standard enrollment windows. 

Medicare offers Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) for these situations. Categories that trigger an SEP include:

• Changing where you live
• Losing your current coverage
• Gaining access to different coverage, such as TRICARE
• Contract changes with your current plan
• Other special situations, like a natural disaster or qualifying for Medicaid

SEPs may have different rules about how long they last and when you can enroll. If you think you qualify for an SEP to enroll or change your coverage, contact Medicare directly. 

Download our printable Medicare Enrollment Calander. (PDF attachement)

You can also reach out to a licensed health insurance agent at 833-534-0078 (TTY 711), [Monday — Friday, 9am to 5pm EST].

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