Every Medicare enrollment period, explained

Medicare runs on windows. Here is every one of them.

Almost every Medicare problem Priscilla untangles started with a missed or misunderstood enrollment window. This guide explains each period in plain English, what it lets you do, and the dates that apply this year.

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

The IEP spans 7 months: the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Enroll in the early 3 months and benefits begin the first day of your birthday month. Enroll during or after your birthday month and benefits begin the first of the following month. If your birthday falls on the 1st, everything shifts one month earlier. Turning 65 soon? The Turning 65 checklist turns this window into a simple to-do list.

Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7)

This is the big one you see advertised every fall. Anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, with changes effective January 1. Because carriers adjust premiums, networks, and drug formularies every year, Priscilla offers every client a free AEP review - the plan that fit last year may not be your best fit next year.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 to March 31)

Already in an Advantage plan and having second thoughts? During MA OEP you get one switch: move to a different Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. Note that returning to Original Medicare does not guarantee Medigap acceptance - in most states, insurers can ask health questions outside your original Medigap window.

General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31)

Missed your IEP entirely and have no special circumstances? The GEP is the catch-up lane: enroll in Part B (and Part A if you must pay a premium for it), with coverage starting the first of the month after you enroll. Late penalties usually apply, which is why avoiding the GEP in the first place is the real goal.

Medigap Open Enrollment: the window people regret missing

For 6 months starting the month you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B, every Medigap insurer must accept you at standard rates regardless of your health history. Once it closes, most states (including North Carolina and Virginia) allow medical underwriting for later applications outside guaranteed-issue situations. If the Medigap path appeals to you, decide during this window. Not sure which path fits? Start with the Advantage vs. Supplement comparison.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)

Life events open their own windows: losing employer coverage after working past 65, moving out of your plan's service area, your plan leaving your county, qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid, and more. Each SEP has its own rules and clock. When something changes in your life, call Priscilla before assuming you are stuck - there is often a window open.

The penalties, in plain numbers

• Part B late penalty: your monthly premium rises 10 percent for each full 12-month period you went without Part B when you should have had it - and the increase lasts for life.
• Part D late penalty: 1 percent of the national base premium for every month you went without creditable drug coverage, added to your premium permanently.