The first time most people can enroll in Medicare is during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This 7-month period begins three months before the month in which you turn 65 and ends three months after. But, what if you miss your IEP? What happens?
Some people continue to work past 65 with employer health coverage and may be able to delay Medicare enrollment. If you’re planning to work past 65, and would like to see if you may qualify to delay Medicare, please find additional information here.
What happens when you miss your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period?
If you miss your IEP for Medicare enrollment, you can still enroll. You will enroll during what is known as the Medicare General Enrollment Period.
The General Enrollment Period happens every year, January 1 – March 31. During this time, you will enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. Your coverage will begin the month after you sign up.
You may also be eligible to next enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan or Part D prescription drug plan between April 1 and June 30 of the same year. If you want a Medicare Advantage plan, you will need to enroll in both Parts A & B first.
4 things to know if you miss your Medicare initial Enrollment Period
Upbeat music plays. Text in a speech bubble appears beside a calendar page marked with a number 4. A male narrator speaks in voiceover.
ONSCREEN TEXT: Things to know if you
miss your Medicare Initial
Enrollment Period
NARRATOR: Four things to know if you miss your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period.
A number one sweeps past.
NARRATOR: One.
Text appears above an illustrated icon of a bed labeled “Part A” and an icon of a stethoscope labeled “Part B”.
ONSCREEN TEXT: You get another chance to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B
NARRATOR: You get another chance to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
Three calendar pages appear.
ONSCREEN TEXT: Medicare General Enrollment Period
January 1 – March 31
NARRATOR: From January first through March thirty-first, you can enroll during what’s known as the general enrollment period.
A number two appears.
NARRATOR: Two.
Three calendar pages appear.
ONSCREEN TEXT: Qualified individuals can also
enroll in Part C or Part D
April 1 – June 30
NARRATOR: And if you qualify, from April first through June thirtieth…
An icon of a bed and stethoscope labeled “Medicare Advantage” and an icon of a pill bottle labeled “Part D” appear.
NARRATOR: …you can enroll in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan, or a Part D prescription drug plan.
A number 3 appears.
NARRATOR: Three.
Three progressively taller stacks of horizontal lines appear beside the Part A, Part B, and Part D icons. A dollar sign appears on the tallest stack.
ONSCREEN TEXT: You may have to pay late penalties
NARRATOR: Depending on your situation, you may have to pay late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D.
A number four appears.
NARRATOR: Four.
A calendar with a checkmark on the first square appears.
ONSCREEN TEXT: Your Medicare coverage may begin July 1st
NARRATOR: If you enroll in Medicare during the general enrollment period, and additional coverage between April and June, your coverage should begin July first the same year.
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Enrolling in Medicare late may mean late penalties
Now, here’s the downside to enrolling after your Initial Enrollment Period. Depending on your situation (example: if you have creditable coverage that qualified you to delay or not), you may have to pay late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part A, Part B and/or Part D.
You can read about all Medicare late enrollment penalties here.
Again, whether or not you pay Medicare late enrollment penalties will depend on your unique situation.
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