Editorial note: Figures on this page reflect the 2026 Medicare program year and are cross-referenced against the official Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publications. Always confirm current numbers before making enrollment decisions.
6 months before you turn 65
- List your current doctors, prescriptions and dosages, and preferred pharmacies.
- Find out whether you or your spouse will still have employer coverage after 65, and how it works with Medicare.
- Check whether you are already receiving Social Security benefits — if so, you will usually be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically.
- Learn the difference between Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy and Medicare Advantage.
3 months before you turn 65
- Your Initial Enrollment Period opens. If you are not enrolled automatically, you can sign up for Parts A and B through Social Security.
- Signing up during these first 3 months generally lets coverage start the first day of your birthday month.
- Compare drug coverage options so you have creditable drug coverage in place when Medicare starts.
The month you turn 65
- Confirm your Medicare card and your Part A and Part B start dates.
- Your 6-month Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment Period begins once you are 65 and enrolled in Part B.
- If you enroll in or after your birthday month, coverage generally starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
How the Initial Enrollment Period works
The Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long: the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, the birthday month itself, and the 3 months after. During this time you can enroll in Parts A and B, and you can join a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan.
If you miss it and do not have other creditable coverage, you may have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) and may owe late enrollment penalties.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming you can delay Part B without checking whether your other coverage counts.
- Going without creditable drug coverage, which can lead to a Part D late penalty.
- Missing the Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment Period, when you generally cannot be turned down for health reasons.
- Choosing coverage based only on the monthly premium instead of total yearly costs.
- Not checking whether your doctors and prescriptions are covered.
Medicare Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. For a complete list of plans in your area, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-486-2048).