Initial Enrollment Period
This is your first window. It lasts seven months, and it starts three months before you turn 65.
It ends three months after your birthday month. During this time you can sign up for Parts A and B, and you can join any plan.
If you sign up before your birthday month, coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up later, coverage generally starts the month after. See Turning 65 for examples.
General Enrollment Period
If you missed your first window, you can sign up between January 1 and March 31 each year. Coverage starts the month after you sign up. You may pay a late penalty for Part B, and for Part A if it has a premium.
Annual Enrollment Period
From October 15 to December 7 each year, you can change your coverage. You can join, drop or switch a Medicare Advantage plan. You can also join, drop or switch a Part D drug plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Changes made in this window start January 1. The plan must get your request by December 7. Read your yearly plan review before this window ends.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you have a second chance each year. From January 1 to March 31, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan. You can also go back to Original Medicare and join a separate drug plan.
You cannot join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time during this window. It is only for people already in one.
Special Enrollment Periods
Certain life events give you a window outside the usual dates. Examples include the following.
- You move to a new address that is outside your plan's service area.
- You lose job or retiree coverage.
- Your plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area.
- You get Medicaid or Extra Help.
- You are leaving a place such as a long-term care facility.
The length of each window varies. Medicare.gov explains them on its joining a plan page. Keep proof of the event, such as a letter, because the plan may ask for it.
Medigap Open Enrollment
Medigap has its own window. It lasts six months, and it starts the month you are 65 or older and have Part B.
During this time, a company cannot turn you down or charge more because of your health. Our Medigap guide explains more.
Initial Part D enrollment and the late penalty
Part D has a seven-month first window like Part B. If you go 63 days or more without drug coverage that is at least as good as Medicare's, you may pay a penalty.
The penalty is added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. See Part D.
Enrollment periods in Brick, NJ: a quick plan
Write the dates that matter to you on one page, then call to confirm them. Check your plan's notice each fall, and ask for help if a letter looks unclear. Many people also mark December 7 on a calendar in October.
Keep reading
This page is part of the Coverage & Costs library, inside our Medicare insurance guide for Brick, NJ. Related pages:
Unfamiliar word? Check the Medicare glossary.
Find out which window applies to you
Dates are strict and the rules change with your situation. An insurance professional can help you work out which window you are in.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
It runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes made in this window start January 1.
What is the General Enrollment Period?
It runs from January 1 to March 31. You can use it if you missed your first window, and coverage starts the month after you sign up.
Can I change my Medicare Advantage plan after December 7?
If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch from January 1 to March 31. You can also return to Original Medicare during that time.
What is a Special Enrollment Period?
It is a window that opens because of a life event, such as a move or the loss of job coverage. The length depends on the event.
How long is the Initial Enrollment Period?
Seven months. It starts three months before your 65th birthday month and ends three months after it.