When to sign up for Medicare

Medicare gives you a 7-month window to enroll when you are aging into Medicare, turning 65. Three (3) months before your birth month, your birth month, and three (3) months after your birth month. Use the following chart to see your window.

3 Months BeforeBirth Month3 Months After
October, November, DecemberJanuaryFebruary, March, April
November, December, JanuaryFebruaryMarch, April, May
December, January, FebruaryMarchApril, May, June
January, February, MarchAprilMay, June, July
February, March, AprilMayJune, July, August
March, April, MayJuneJuly, August, September
April, May, JuneJulyAugust, September, October
May, June, JulyAugustSeptember, October, November
June, July, AugustSeptemberOctober, November, December
July, August, SeptemberOctoberNovember, December, January
August, September, OctoberNovemberDecember, January, February
September, October, NovemberDecemberJanuary, February, March

The following chart shows when your Medicare becomes effective:

If you enroll in this month of your initial enrollment period Then your Part B Medicare coverage starts
One to three months before you reach age 65
The month you reach age 65 
The month you reach age 65 
One month after the month you reach age 65 
One month after you reach age 65 Two months after the month of enrollment
Two or three months after you reach age 65 Three months after the month of enrollment 

So if your birthday is in December and you wait until February or March to enroll, your Medicare effective date won’t be until June 1st.

This is a solicitation for insurance. Submitting information or calling numbers listed on this website will direct you to a licensed Agent/Broker.

Important disclosures about Medicare Plans: Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. Not connected or affiliated with any United States Government or State agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.