Am I eligible for Medicare and when can I enroll?
When you turn 65 and are covered by Medicare Part B, you become eligible for Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans.
The best time to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period automatically starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. You can also consider changing your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan when the Medicare Open Enrollment period begins, which is usually in October. Â
Key Terms:
• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. The initial enrollment period is a seven-month window (three months before, the month of, and three months after your 65th birthday) to sign up for Medicare.
• General Enrollment Period (GEP): If you miss the IEP, you can enroll during the GEP, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. However, you may face late enrollment penalties.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Certain circumstances, such as working past age 65 or qualifying for Medicare due to a disability, may grant you a special enrollment period.
The best time to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period automatically starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. You can also consider changing your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan when the Medicare Open Enrollment period begins, which is usually in October. Â
Key Terms:
• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. The initial enrollment period is a seven-month window (three months before, the month of, and three months after your 65th birthday) to sign up for Medicare.
• General Enrollment Period (GEP): If you miss the IEP, you can enroll during the GEP, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. However, you may face late enrollment penalties.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Certain circumstances, such as working past age 65 or qualifying for Medicare due to a disability, may grant you a special enrollment period.