Medicare has different enrollment periods throughout the year, where beneficiaries can join, drop, or switch insurance plans. For most people, the Medicare initial enrollment period (IEP) is their first chance to sign up for Medicare.
The IEP occurs around the time a person turns 65 years old. Individuals with certain disabilities, end stage renal disease (ESRD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can become eligible for Medicare before the age of 65 years.
This article discusses when the Medicare IEP begins, when coverage starts, what plans you can enroll in, and more.
The Medicare IEP is a 7-month window around your 65th birthday. It begins 3 months before your birth month and ends 3 months after your birth month.
For example, if a person turns 65 years old on December 15, their IEP would run from September 1 to March 31 the following year.
However, if you’re born on the first of the month, the timeframe is slightly different. Your IEP would begin 4 months before your birthday and end 2 months after your birth month.
So, a person who turns 65 years old on December 1 would have an IEP that runs from August 1 to the last day of February the following year.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a calculator you can use to determine the dates of your IEP.
The IEP is a person’s first opportunity to sign up for Original Medicare. Original Medicare includes Part A (inpatient hospital insurance) and Part B (outpatient medical insurance).
After enrolling in Part A or Part B, a person may also enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan
Finally, a person may opt to join a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan during the IEP. However, to do this, they must first have Part A and Part B. Medicare Advantage plans are private plans that include additional benefits beyond those of Original Medicare.
If you miss your IEP or choose not to enroll in Medicare when you first become eligible, you may face penalties in the form of higher premium payments when you enroll later.
Start of coverage
If you qualify for premium-free Part A, your coverage will begin on the first day of the month you turn 65 years old.
For Part B (and Part A for those who need to pay the premium), when your coverage begins depends on when during the IEP you sign up for coverage.
If you sign up before you turn 65 years old, coverage will start at the beginning of your birth month.
In general, you become eligible for Medicare when you turn 65 years old.
You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with at least 5 years of continuous residency before the month you apply for Medicare.
To qualify for premium-free Part A, you or your spouse must have paid into Social Security for 10 years while working or paid Medicare tax as a federal employee.
The date of the Medicare initial enrollment period (IEP) varies depending on when you turn 65 years old. The IEP is a 7-month window that begins 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after your birth month.
If you would like your Medicare benefits to begin at the start of the month that you turn 65 years old, you should enroll in Medicare during the IEP in the 3 months preceding your birth month.
If you enroll in Medicare during your birth month or in the 3 months that follow, your Medicare benefits will begin on the first day of the month after you submit your request.
The Medicare IEP is the first opportunity for most people to enroll in Medicare. It’s a 7-month period that occurs around a person’s 65th birthday.
The IEP is one of a few enrollment periods during which people can make changes to their Medicare coverage. Other enrollment periods include the Medicare open enrollment period, the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, and special enrollment periods.
During the IEP, a person can enroll in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Part D.