When does Medicare coverage start? | Medicare
You can sign up between January 1-March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period. Your coverage starts the month after you sign up. You might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty, if you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Get details about the late enrollment penalties. Special Situations (Special Enrollment Period)
Joining a plan - Medicare
You can only join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or Medicare drug plan (Part D) at certain times, called enrollment periods. In general, when you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must keep the plan for the rest of the year, unless you drop it to return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining the Medicare ...
Initial Enrollment Periods. Your first chance to sign up for Medicare is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts for 7 months. If you’re eligible for Medicare because of your age, the Initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before you turn 65, and ends 3 …
Special Enrollment Periods - Medicare
These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods. The types of changes you can make and the timing depend on your life event. If you have questions or need help making enrollment changes, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1 …
When can I sign up for Medicare?
Your 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B starts when you stop working, even if you choose COBRA or other coverage that’s not Medicare. If you lose your job-based health coverage before you or your spouse stop working, you have 8 months to sign up.
When can I buy a Medigap policy? - Medicare
The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This is the 6-month period that starts the first day of the month you're 65 or older and signed up for Part B. After this period, your options to buy a Medigap policy may be …
Welcome to Medicare | Medicare
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Enrollment periods that happen each year. Each year, you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There are 2 separate enrollment periods each year. See the chart below for specific dates.
Get ready to buy - Medicare
Under federal law, you get a 6 month “Medigap Open Enrollment” period. It starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and you’re 65 or older.
How to switch your Medicare drug plan
You can switch to a new Medicare drug plan by joining another drug plan during one of these times. You don't need to cancel your old Medicare drug plan. Your old Medicare drug plan coverage will end when your new drug plan begins.