The quick version
6 things to remember
- Your first Medicare sign-up window spans 7 months, centered on the month you turn 65.
- Apply during the 3 months before your birthday month and coverage begins on day one of that month.
- Coverage from a current job at a 20+ employee company (yours or a spouse’s) usually lets you postpone Part B penalty-free.
- Missing your window without qualifying coverage can mean Part B and Part D penalties that never go away.
- You get a single 6-month guaranteed window to buy any Medigap plan, starting when Part B begins.
- Medicare still starts at 65, even though full Social Security retirement age is now 67 for most people.
For most people, it goes like this: sign up for Parts A and B through Social Security, then choose how to fill in the rest: a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medigap policy paired with a Part D drug plan.
Your 7-month sign-up window
Your Initial Enrollment Period is your first chance to join. It covers the 3 months before your birthday month, the month itself, and the 3 months after.
Find your personal sign-up dates
We’ll show when your 7-month window opens and closes. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
| If you apply… | Your coverage begins… |
|---|---|
| 1-3 months before your birthday month | First day of your birthday month |
| During your birthday month | First day of the next month |
| 1-3 months after your birthday month | First day of the month after you apply |
Your month-by-month checklist
6-9 months out
- Confirm you qualify for premium-free Part A (generally 40 quarters of Medicare-taxed work by you or your spouse).
- Decide whether you’ll keep working and keep employer coverage. That decides your Part B timing.
- If you fund an HSA, plan when to stop contributions. Part A can be backdated up to 6 months.
- List your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions so you can compare plans quickly later.
- Set up a my Social Security account online.
3 months before your birthday month
- Your enrollment window opens. Not yet on Social Security? Apply at SSA.gov, call 1-800-772-1213, or visit an office.
- Already collecting Social Security or RRB benefits? Look for your Medicare card in the mail.
- Compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap options in your ZIP code. A licensed agent can do this with you at no cost.
- Staying on Original Medicare? Pick a Part D drug plan.
Your birthday month
- Applied early? Coverage starts on the 1st.
- Have a Marketplace (ACA) plan? Set it to end the day Medicare begins.
- Make sure new ID cards arrived and your pharmacy has your updated info.
First 6 months of Part B
- Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. You can buy any Supplement plan without health questions.
- Book your free “Welcome to Medicare” visit (available your first 12 months on Part B).
Not sure which deadlines apply to you?
A licensed agent can go over your dates and options in one phone call. There is no cost.
Will Medicare start on its own?
It depends on whether you’re already getting Social Security.
Already collecting
Getting Social Security or RRB benefits for 4+ months before 65? You’re signed up for Parts A and B automatically. Your card arrives about 3 months early.
Not collecting yet
You’ll need to apply yourself. That’s more common now that full retirement age is 67.
Still working at 65?
Many people keep working past 65. Whether you need Medicare right away mostly comes down to the size of your employer.
| Your situation | Who pays first | What most people do |
|---|---|---|
| Current-job coverage, employer with 20+ employees | Employer plan | Take Part A; Part B can usually wait without penalty. |
| Current-job coverage, employer with under 20 employees | Medicare | Enroll in Parts A and B at 65. The employer plan may pay little on its own. |
| COBRA, retiree plan or Marketplace plan | Medicare | Enroll in your Initial Enrollment Period. These don’t count as current-job coverage. |
Signing up for Part B later
If you wait on Part B because of coverage from a current job, you can join any time while still covered, or within 8 months after the job or coverage ends, whichever comes first.
HSAs and Medicare
You can’t put money into an HSA once any part of Medicare starts. Since Part A can be backdated up to 6 months if you sign up after 65, stop contributions about 6 months before.
Important dates for 2026 and 2027
| Period | Dates | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months around your 65th birthday | Enroll in A and B; choose Advantage or Part D |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | 6 months from Part B start (age 65+) | Buy any Supplement with no health questions |
| Annual Enrollment (2027 plans) | Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026 | Join, switch or drop Advantage/Part D; effective Jan 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2027 | One switch between Advantage plans or back to Original Medicare |
| General Enrollment Period | Jan 1 to Mar 31, every year | Late sign-up for A or B; penalties may apply |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | Triggered by losing job coverage, moving, Extra Help, etc. |
Turning 65 late in the year? Your sign-up window may overlap with Annual Enrollment. An agent can help you make your choices in the right order.
Keep reading
Medicare Advantage or Medigap: choosing your coverage at 65
Parts A and B are only the start. Here’s how the two main ways to fill the gaps compare, and the one-time window that makes a Supplement easiest to get.
What Medicare costs in 2026 and 2027
Premiums, deductibles and the penalties that can follow you for life if you sign up late.
Medicare mistakes to avoid at 65
The errors that cost people the most, and the situations where the usual rules don’t apply.
How Get Ready for 65 helps
Get Ready for 65 is an independent agency. Our licensed agents compare plans from top carriers in your area, at no cost to you. On a call we’ll:
- Confirm your enrollment dates
- Tell you whether Part B can wait if you’re still working
- Check your doctors and prescriptions against local plans
- Lay out Advantage, Medigap and Part D side by side
- Help you apply, and answer questions after you enroll
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply for Medicare if I’m turning 65?
Aim for the 3 months before your birthday month. That way your coverage begins the first day you turn 65’s month. You can still enroll up to 3 months after, but coverage will start later.
Will I be signed up automatically?
Only if you’ve been receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits for at least 4 months before 65. Otherwise, you need to apply through Social Security yourself.
I’m still working. Do I need Medicare at 65?
If you (or your spouse) have coverage through current employment at a company with 20 or more employees, you can usually hold off on Part B without penalty. Many people still take Part A because it’s premium-free. Smaller employers generally require you to enroll in both.
What if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period?
Without a Special Enrollment Period, you’ll wait for General Enrollment (Jan 1 to Mar 31) and may owe permanent late penalties for Part B and Part D.
What does Part B cost in 2026?
$202.90 a month for most people, with a $283 annual deductible. Higher earners pay more through IRMAA.
Is Part A really free?
For most people with 40 quarters of Medicare-taxed work (or a spouse who has them), yes. You still owe the $1,736 deductible per benefit period in 2026 if you’re admitted to a hospital.
Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement?
It depends on what you value. Advantage trades networks and copays for lower premiums and extras. Supplements cost more monthly but let you see any provider that takes Medicare with minimal out-of-pocket costs.
Which Medigap plan is best at 65?
There’s no universal winner. Plan G is the most comprehensive available to new enrollees; Plan N lowers premiums with small copays; high-deductible G is the cheapest monthly. Plans C and F aren’t available to anyone newly eligible since 2020.
Do I need Part D with no prescriptions?
Usually, yes. Going 63+ days without creditable drug coverage after your window triggers a penalty that lasts as long as you have Part D.
Can I keep my doctors?
With Original Medicare plus a Supplement, any U.S. doctor that accepts Medicare works. With Advantage, confirm your doctors are in network before you enroll.
Can I get Medicare without claiming Social Security?
Yes. You can enroll at 65 and delay Social Security. You’ll be billed directly for Part B until benefits start.
Does my spouse get Medicare when I do?
No. Each person qualifies individually. Your work record can, however, qualify a spouse for premium-free Part A and vice versa.
What is the “Welcome to Medicare” visit?
A one-time preventive visit in your first 12 months on Part B to review your health and plan screenings. It’s free if your doctor accepts assignment, and annual Wellness visits follow.
How do I actually sign up?
Apply for Parts A and B at SSA.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person. Railroad workers go through the RRB. After that, a licensed agent can help you pick Advantage, Medigap or Part D coverage.
Is there a cost to work with Get Ready for 65?
No. Licensed agents are paid by the carriers they represent, so your premium is the same either way, and you’re never required to enroll.