Turning 65
Medicare has specific enrollment windows, and which one applies to you depends on your situation rather than on your age alone. The first step is working out which of the three below is yours. Everything else follows from that.
Or call (619) 382-3810 and speak with a Licensed Insurance Agent, Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm PT.
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Where you actually are
This is the straightforward one. Your Initial Enrollment Period runs seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, that month, and the three months after.
Starting in the earlier part of that window means your coverage is in place before you need it.
If you are covered by a group health plan based on current employment, your own or a spouse's, you can generally enroll in Part B while that coverage is still in place.
You also get a Special Enrollment Period lasting up to eight months, starting when the employment ends or that group health coverage ends, whichever happens first. COBRA does not extend that clock.
If you're still several months away, learning the timeline now can make the process easier later. Nothing on this page requires you to make a coverage decision today.
There is a quiet reminder option further down if you would rather be nudged when your window opens.
Your Initial Enrollment Period runs seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, that month, and the three months after. Which window applies to you depends on your situation and your current coverage.
Worth knowing early
There is a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It begins when you are 65 or older and your Part B coverage begins. During that period you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state, even if you have health problems.
After that period, your options may be limited or cost more. Medigap does not become unavailable, and other guaranteed-issue protections can still apply in certain situations. It is simply the point at which the rules change, which is why it is worth understanding before your Medicare starts.
Two ways to do this
Or call (619) 382-3810 and speak with a Licensed Insurance Agent, Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm PT.
Not sure where you stand yet? Answer two questions and we'll point you at the right part.
Nothing here needs deciding today. If you would rather be reminded when your window opens, you can leave an email at the end of the two-question guide and we'll send one message. Nothing else, and you can stop it any time.
Or call (619) 382-3810 and speak with a Licensed Insurance Agent, Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm PT.
The San Diego County Aging & Independence Services program offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling through California's SHIP program (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program, HICAP). It is a good second opinion alongside a conversation with a licensed agent, and it costs nothing either way.