Medicare Enrollment Periods: When Can You Sign Up?

Missing your Medicare enrollment window can mean delayed coverage and permanent premium penalties. Here's a complete guide to every enrollment period and what it means for you.

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Medicare enrollment can be confusing — miss a key deadline, and you could face permanent premium penalties. Here's a guide to every enrollment period.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Your first opportunity to enroll in Medicare. It's a 7-month window that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and extends 3 months after.

*Best practice:* Enroll during the 3 months before your birthday month so coverage starts on the first of your birthday month.

General Enrollment Period (GEP)
If you missed your IEP, you can enroll January 1 – March 31 each year, with coverage starting July 1. You may face a late enrollment penalty for Part B.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
If you're still working at 65 and have employer coverage, you can delay Medicare without penalty. When you retire or lose employer coverage, you have an 8-month SEP to enroll in Part A and Part B.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
October 15 – December 7 each year. During this period, anyone on Medicare can switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch from Advantage to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan), or switch Part D drug plans.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
January 1 – March 31. If you're already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another MA plan or switch back to Original Medicare.

Late Enrollment Penalties
- Part B: 10% premium increase for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn't enroll
- Part D: 1% per month penalty for each month without creditable drug coverage

*Our Medicare advisors help you navigate enrollment periods and choose the right plan for your needs. Contact us — we're here year-round.*