Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
- Medicare Part A (hospital insurance): Automatically enrolled at no cost if you’ve worked 10 years and qualify for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits.
- Medicare Part B (medical insurance): Automatically enrolled (with fee), but can opt out. Still working and covered by an employer health plan? Delay Part B without penalty and enroll during later SEP.
General Enrollment Period (GEP)
Miss your IEP? Sign up for Medicare parts A and/or B from January 1 – March 31. Coverage begins July 1, but late enrollment penalties may apply.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
Experienced a life-changing event? (Ex., losing employer coverage, moving, or changes in Medicaid eligibility) You may qualify for a SEP to enroll outside the standard windows.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)
From January 1 – March 31, if you’re enrolled in an MA plan, you can:
- Switch to another MA plan.
- Drop your plan and return to Original Medicare, with option to add a Medicare Supplement and/or Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
From October 15 – December 7, you can:
- Move from Original Medicare to an MA plan (with or without prescription drug coverage).
- Join, drop, or switch PDPs.
- Switch MA plans or return to Original Medicare (with supplemental coverage options).
Enroll or make changes before your window closes to ensure coverage starts January 1 of the following year.
Connect with an Education Specialist at (855) 764-2227 and make your Medicare plan work for you!