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Medicare coverage starts based on when you sign up and which sign-up period you’re in.
Your first chance to sign up (Initial Enrollment Period)
Generally, when you turn 65. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65.
My birthday is on the first of the month
Your 7-month period starts earlier. It starts 4 months before you turn 65 and ends 2 months after the month you turn 65. Generally, your Medicare coverage starts the first day of the month before you turn 65.
Your birthday is June 1st. When you turn 65, your Initial Enrollment Period is February-August. If you sign up in February, March, or April, your coverage starts May 1st.
Avoid the penalty. If you miss your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. The penalty goes up the longer you wait. You may also have to pay a penalty if you have to pay a Part A premium, also called “Premium-Part A.”
When your coverage starts
The date your coverage starts depends on which month you sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. Coverage always starts on the first of the month.
If you qualify for Premium-free Part A: Your Part A coverage starts the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first of the month, coverage starts the month before you turn 65).
Part B (and Premium-Part A): Coverage starts based on the month you sign up:
| If you sign up: | Coverage starts: |
|---|---|
| Before the month you turn 65 | The month you turn 65 |
| The month you turn 65 | The next month |
| 1 month after you turn 65 | 2 months after you sign up |
| 2 or 3 months after you turn 65 | 3 months after you sign up |
Signing up for Premium-free Part A later
You can sign up for Part A any time after you turn 65. Your Part A coverage starts 6 months back from when you sign up or when you apply for benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board). Coverage can’t start earlier than the month you turned 65.
I have a Health Savings Account (HSA)
To avoid a tax penalty, you and your employer should stop contributing to your HSA at least 6 months before you apply for Medicare. This is because:
– Your Part A coverage will start up to 6 months back from the date you sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board).
– You’re not eligible to make contributions to your HSA after you have Medicare.
If your Medicare Part A coverage overlaps when you made contributions, you’ll have to pay a tax penalty.
You can withdraw money from your HSA after your Medicare coverage starts to help pay your share of costs (like deductibles, premiums, coinsurance or copayments).
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) based on your or your spouse’s current employment, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty.
After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you can only sign up for Part B and Premium-Part A during one of the other enrollment periods.
Between January 1 – March 31 each year (General Enrollment Period)
You can sign up between January 1 – March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period. Your coverage starts July 1. You might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty, if you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Special Situations (Special Enrollment Period)
There are certain situations when you can sign up for Part B (and Premium-Part A) during a Special Enrollment Period without paying a late enrollment penalty. A Special Enrollment Period is only available for a limited time. If you don’t sign up during your Special Enrollment Period, you’ll have to wait for the next General Enrollment Period and you might have to pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.
When coverage starts
Generally, coverage starts the month after you sign up.
Special situations include:
You have health insurance through a job and still working — You can sign up for Part A and Part B any time as long as:
– You have group health plan coverage (Group health plan – In general, a health plan offered by an employer or employee organization that provides health coverage to employees and their families).
– You or your spouse (or a family member if you’re disabled) is working for the employer that provides your health coverage.
You also have 8 months to sign up after you or your spouse (or your family member if you’re disabled) stop working or you lose group health plan coverage (whichever happens first).
Your 8-month Special Enrollment Period starts when you stop working, even if you choose COBRA or other coverage that’s not Medicare.
Situations that don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period:
– Your COBRA coverage or retiree coverage ends. If you miss your 8-month window when you stop working, you’ll have to wait until the next General Enrollment Period to sign up.
– You have or lose your Marketplace coverage.
– You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Joining a plan
Once you sign up for Medicare Part A, there are certain times you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan (a type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually also includes drug coverage) or Medicare drug plan (Part D) (separate prescription drug coverage from Medicare-approved private plans).
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 616-600-8444 or fill out a “Contact Us” form in the right top of the page or “Get Help Now” in the left corner of the page. We will gladly make Medicare easy for you.
Source of information www.medicare.gov
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