How to enroll in Medicare if you are turning 65 without Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits

It is important to note that if your birthday falls on the first of the month, your IEP is the seven months surrounding the month prior to the month of your birth. For example, let’s say you turn 65 on June 1. Your IEP runs from February 1 to August 31.

2. Part B Special Enrollment Period (SEP) Special Enrollment Period (SEP) Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) are periods of time outside normal enrollment periods when you can enroll in Medicare or change your health and/or drug coverage. One example is the Part B SEP, which allows you to enroll in Part B without penalty while you have job-based insurance and for eight months after you lose the insurance or stop working. SEPs triggered by specific circumstances may also allow you to switch or disenroll from Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans. For example, if you moved out of your plan’s service area, you would receive an SEP to switch to another plan. for job-based insurance. SEPs are periods of time outside of normal enrollment periods enrollment periods Enrollment periods are certain periods of time when you can join the Original Medicare program, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Part D plan, or supplemental insurance plan (Medigap). See also: Fall Open Enrollment, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, General Enrollment Period, Initial Coverage Election Period, Initial Enrollment Period, Medigap Open Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Period. , triggered by specific circumstances. This Part B SEP lets you delay enrollment in Part B without penalty if you were covered by insurance based on your or your spouse’s current work current work One of the qualifications for the Part B Special Enrollment Period is to be currently working. You are considered to be currently working as long as you have employment rights at your company even if you do not work on a regular basis, are on sick leave, are a seasonal worker, or have been temporarily laid-off. You are not considered to be currently working if you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), have received disability benefits from your employer for more than six months, or if you receive your employer insurance through COBRA. (job-based insurance) when you first become eligible for Medicare. You can enroll in Medicare without penalty for up to eight months after you lose your group health coverage or you (or your spouse) stop working, whichever comes first. Medicare coverage begins the first month after you enroll. For example, if you retire and sign up for Medicare in February, your coverage will begin March 1. To avoid a gap in coverage, enroll in Medicare the month before your job-based insurance will end.

There are also Special Enrollment Periods for some less common situations, such as if you could not enroll in Medicare on time because you live in an area that was affected by a government-declared state-of-emergency or disaster.

3. General Enrollment Period (GEP). If you did not enroll in Medicare when you originally became eligible for it (either during your IEP or an SEP), you can sign up during the GEP. The GEP takes place January 1 through March 31 each year, with coverage starting the first of the month after the month you enroll. You may incur a Part B late enrollment penalty late enrollment penalty A late enrollment penalty is an amount you must pay to Medicare in addition to the regular monthly premium for late enrollment in Part B or Part D. The Part B premium penalty is 10% of the Part B premium for each 12-month period you delayed enrollment without insurance from your or your spouse’s current work. The Part D premium penalty is 1% of the Part D premium for each month you delayed enrollment without creditable drug coverage. and face gaps in coverage gaps in coverage Gaps in coverage are services or costs that are not covered by Original Medicare, such as vision, dental, and hearing care, as well as deductibles and coinsurance. if you sign up during the GEP.