Your Medicare Enrollment Timeline

The five milestones

1. Step 1

   Turning 65

   Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7-month window: the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.

2. Step 2

   Initial Enrollment Period

   Sign up for Parts A and B during this window. Sign up before your birthday month for coverage to begin on the 1st of your birthday month.

3. Step 3

   Compare Plans

   Decide between Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles everything together.

4. Step 4

   Choose Coverage

   Enroll in the coverage that fits your doctors, prescriptions, and budget — with Scott's guidance if you'd like a second set of eyes.

5. Step 5

   Annual Review

   Re-shop every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). Plans and prescriptions change — your coverage should keep up.

A few enrollment terms to know

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Your 7-month sign-up window around your 65th birthday. General Enrollment Period (GEP): January 1 – March 31 each year, for people who missed their IEP. Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, when you can change Advantage or Part D plans. Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Triggered by qualifying life events like losing employer coverage or moving.