Are you or a loved one approaching age 65? Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window that begins 3 months before your 65th birthday month, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after.
Use this step-by-step countdown to make sure you get covered on time and avoid lifelong late-enrollment penalties:
- 📅 6 Months Before: Stop making contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) to avoid IRS tax penalties.
- 📅 3 Months Before: Apply for Medicare Parts A and B. If you already receive Social Security benefits, enrollment is automatic. If not, you must manually sign up at SSA.gov.
- 📅 2 Months Before: Research your options. Decide if you want Original Medicare (plus a Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy) or a Medicare Advantage all-in-one plan.
- 📅 1 Month Before: Finalize and submit applications for your chosen private drug or supplemental plans. This ensures your coverage starts exactly on the first day of your birthday month.
🙋 Still Have Questions?
Navigating Medicare options can be confusing. Our Social Services Coordinator, David Summers, is here to help! Call 304-366-8779 to make an appointment with David for free, one-on-one advice.