Turning 65: what to do and when

Most people first sign up around their 65th birthday. You have 7 months to do this. This time is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after it. Signing up early helps your coverage start on time.

Medicare from the government (Original Medicare) has two parts. Part A (hospital coverage) includes hospital stays, skilled nursing care and hospice care for people near the end of life. Part B (doctor coverage) includes doctor visits, tests, care to help prevent illness and medical equipment. It also covers care you get without staying in the hospital.

Most people have no monthly cost for Part A (hospital coverage) if they or their spouse worked long enough. Part B (doctor coverage) has a monthly cost.

If you have health insurance through your own or your spouse's current job, you may be able to wait to sign up for Part B (doctor coverage) without a late penalty. This depends on the employer's size and how the insurance works. Check with your employer's benefits office or Social Security before deciding. Insurance from a former job, such as retiree insurance or temporary coverage after leaving a job (COBRA), usually does not count.

A few months before your birthday month, think about your two choices. You can choose an all-in-one plan (Medicare Advantage), or the any-doctor plan (Original Medicare + Medigap + drug plan). Compare the plans available where you live. This site helps you understand those choices.