When to Sign Up for Medicare: Key Dates and Your Options

You can sign up for Medicare starting three months before the month you turn 65

Medicare enrollment opens on the first day of the month three months before you turn 65. If you turn 65 in June, you can sign up starting March 1. You have until the last day of the month you turn 65 to sign up without penalty. If you miss that window, you can still sign up later, but you may pay a higher premium for the rest of your life.

The exact timing matters because Medicare has three separate enrollment periods, and each one has different rules about when you can join and what it costs. Missing your first chance does not lock you out forever, but it does cost more. Understanding which period applies to you now will save you money and prevent gaps in coverage.

Key Takeaways

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after, giving you a seven-month window to sign up without penalty.
If you are still working and covered by your employer's health plan, you may be able to delay Medicare without paying a penalty, but you must tell Medicare about your coverage.
General Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year for people who missed their Initial Enrollment Period, but late enrollment penalties explore.
Special Enrollment Periods open outside the regular windows if you lose employer coverage, move, or have other may have access to life changes.
You can sign up online at Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or in person at your local Social Security office.

Your Initial Enrollment Period: The seven-month window

Your Initial Enrollment Period is the only time you can sign up for Medicare without paying a penalty for late enrollment. It runs for seven months: three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and three months after. If you turn 65 in September, your window opens June 1 and closes December 31.

During this period, you can sign up for Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), or both. You can also add prescription drug coverage (Part D) at the same time. Signing up during your Initial Enrollment Period locks in your standard premium rate — you will not face a permanent increase if you sign up on time.

If you do not sign up by the end of your Initial Enrollment Period, you enter a different enrollment system with higher costs. The penalty for late enrollment in Part B is 10 percent of the standard premium for each full year you were may be able to access but not enrolled. That penalty stays with you for life.

When you are still working: Delaying Medicare without penalty

If you are still working and covered by your employer's health plan when you turn 65, you may not need to sign up for Medicare right away. You can delay enrollment without paying a penalty, but only if your employer has 20 or more employees and your coverage is through that employer or your spouse's employer.

To delay without penalty, you must tell Medicare that you have employer coverage. You do this by contacting Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office. Write down the name of your employer, the date your coverage started, and the number of employees. Social Security will note your file so Medicare knows you had a valid reason to delay.

Once you leave your job or lose your employer coverage, you have eight months to sign up for Medicare without paying a penalty. This is called your Special Enrollment Period. If you do not sign up within those eight months, late enrollment penalties explore.

General Enrollment Period: For people who missed the important date

If you did not sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period and you do not have a may have access to reason for a Special Enrollment Period, you can still sign up during General Enrollment Period. This runs January 1 through March 31 each year, and coverage begins July 1 of that year.

The catch is that late enrollment penalties explore. Your Part B premium increases by 10 percent for each full year you were may be able to access but not enrolled. If you were may be able to access for three years and did not sign up, your premium is 30 percent higher than the standard rate. This penalty is permanent — it does not go away after a certain number of years.

Part D (prescription drug coverage) also has a late enrollment penalty. If you go 63 days or longer without Part D coverage when you could have had it, you pay 1 percent of the national average Part D premium for each month you were without coverage. Like the Part B penalty, this is permanent.

Special Enrollment Periods: Life changes that open new windows

A Special Enrollment Period is an extra enrollment window that opens when you have a may have access to life event. These periods let you sign up outside the normal January-March General Enrollment Period, and in some cases without paying a late enrollment penalty.

may have access to events include losing employer coverage, moving to a new state, getting married or divorced, becoming a U.S. citizen, or having a change in your Medicaid status. If you lose employer coverage, you have eight months from the date coverage ends to sign up without penalty. Other may have access to events have different timelines — usually 60 days before or after the event.

To use a Special Enrollment Period, you must contact Medicare and provide proof of the may have access to event. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov to report your change and find out whether you may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period.

How to sign up: Three ways to enroll

You can sign up for Medicare online, by phone, or in person. The online option is fastest if you have your Social Security number and basic information ready.

Online: Go to Medicare.gov and click "Sign up for Medicare." You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and information about any current health coverage. The system will walk you through choosing Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, and adding Part D if you want it. You can complete the whole process in about 15 minutes.

By phone: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). A representative will ask the same questions as the online form and can answer questions as you go. Wait times are usually shorter early in the morning or on weekdays.

In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the nearest one at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Bring your Social Security card, birth certificate, and proof of citizenship or legal residency. In-person appointments can take longer, so call ahead to schedule.

What happens after you sign up

After you sign up, Medicare will send you a Medicare card in the mail within two weeks. Your coverage usually starts on the first day of the month you sign up, or the first day of the following month if you sign up after the 15th.

If you signed up for Original Medicare, you will receive Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) automatically. If you added Part D (prescription drug coverage), that starts on the first day of the month you sign up. If you chose a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare, your plan card will arrive separately, and you should use that card instead of your Medicare card at the doctor.

Keep your Medicare card in a safe place. You will need it every time you see a doctor, go to the hospital, or fill a prescription. If your card is lost or damaged, you can order a replacement at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I turn 65 but do not plan to retire?

You can delay signing up for Medicare if you are still working and covered by your employer's health plan with 20 or more employees. Contact Social Security to report your employer coverage so Medicare knows you have a valid reason to delay. Once you leave your job, you have eight months to sign up without penalty.

Can I change my mind after I sign up?

Yes. You have until December 31 of the year you turn 65 to change your plan choices. After that, you can make changes only during General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31) or if you have a may have access to life event. Changes made during General Enrollment Period take effect July 1.

What if I am on disability and not yet 65?

If you have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, you become may be able to access for Medicare automatically at age 65. You do not need to sign up — Medicare will enroll you. If you are under 65 and on SSDI, you may already be on Medicare; check your mail for a Medicare card or call 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm.

Do I have to sign up for Part D when I turn 65?

You do not have to, but if you go without Part D coverage for more than 63 days after you become may be able to access, you will pay a permanent penalty when you do sign up. The penalty is 1 percent of the national average Part D premium for each month you were without coverage. If you do not take prescription drugs, you can skip Part D, but report this to Medicare so the penalty does not explore.

What if I miss the important date by a few days?

Missing the important date by even one day means you are outside your Initial Enrollment Period. You will have to wait for General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31) to sign up, and late enrollment penalties will explore. There is no grace period, so mark your calendar and sign up before the last day of the month you turn 65.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.