Medicare General Enrollment Period | A Lifeline

What Is the Medicare General Enrollment Period?

Direct answer: The General Enrollment Period (GEP) is your second chance to sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B if you missed your Initial Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. It happens every year, running annually during a window early in the year. It’s not a penalty-free reset — a late enrollment penalty typically still applies — but it is a genuine lifeline if you’ve found yourself without coverage and no other path back in.

How Do Medicare’s Enrollment Periods Fit Together?

Medicare has several enrollment windows, and knowing which one applies to your situation matters:

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): your first opportunity, centered on your 65th birthday.
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP): available for specific situations, like delaying Medicare due to active employer coverage.
• General Enrollment Period (GEP): the fallback option if you missed your IEP and don’t qualify for an SEP.

The GEP exists specifically for people who don’t have another path back into Medicare — it’s the safety net after the other two windows don’t apply to your situation.

What Happens If I Use the General Enrollment Period?

The GEP isn’t a penalty-free do-over. If you missed your Initial Enrollment Period without qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period, you’ll typically face a late enrollment penalty: your Part B premium increases by roughly 10% for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t enroll — and this penalty applies for as long as you have Part B, not just temporarily.

One important update worth knowing: coverage through the GEP now begins the month immediately following your enrollment, rather than facing the extended delay that used to apply under older rules. This is a real improvement, but it doesn’t erase the penalty — the GEP fixes the coverage gap going forward, not the consequences of the original delay.

Why Does This Matter If I’m Already Facing a Penalty Anyway?

Because the alternative to using the GEP is staying uninsured indefinitely, which is a far worse outcome than a premium penalty. If you find yourself without Medicare coverage and no Special Enrollment Period available, the GEP is your way back in — not using it means remaining without coverage until the next year’s window opens, compounding both your financial exposure and your risk of going without needed care.

How Do I Avoid Needing the General Enrollment Period at All?

The better outcome, by far, is enrolling during your Initial Enrollment Period in the first place, before your coverage is even due to start. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — for example, because of active employer coverage — confirm that directly rather than assuming, since guessing wrong can mean ending up in GEP territory unnecessarily, penalty and all.

Bottom Line

The General Enrollment Period is a genuine safety net if you’ve missed your original window and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — but it comes with a real, permanent premium penalty attached, even though coverage now starts faster than it used to under older rules. The better strategy is avoiding the need for it entirely by enrolling in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period. If you’re unsure which window applies to you, get guidance from a trusted, independent Medicare broker before assuming you’re stuck waiting.

Key Takeaways

• The General Enrollment Period is an annual window for people who missed their Initial Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• A late enrollment penalty typically applies — roughly 10% added to your Part B premium for each full 12-month period of eligible but unenrolled time, for as long as you have Part B.
• Coverage through the GEP now starts the month after enrollment, an improvement over the longer delay that used to apply under older rules.
• The GEP doesn’t erase the penalty — it only provides a path back into coverage, not retroactive forgiveness for the missed window.
• Enrolling during your Initial Enrollment Period, or confirming Special Enrollment Period eligibility if you’re delaying, is the best way to avoid needing the GEP at all.

FAQ – The Medicare General Enrollment Period

What is the Medicare General Enrollment Period?
An annual window for people who missed their Initial Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B.

Does the General Enrollment Period avoid the late enrollment penalty?
No. A penalty typically still applies — roughly 10% added to your Part B premium for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t enroll, lasting as long as you have Part B.

When does coverage start if I enroll during the General Enrollment Period?
Coverage now begins the month immediately following your enrollment, an improvement over the extended delay that used to apply under older rules.

Who needs to use the General Enrollment Period?
Anyone who missed their Initial Enrollment Period and doesn’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — for example, someone without active employer coverage who simply didn’t enroll on time.

How can I avoid needing the General Enrollment Period?
Enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday, or confirm you genuinely qualify for a Special Enrollment Period before assuming you can safely delay.

Working Past 65 | Medicare Pitfalls to Avoid

What Medicare Mistakes Should I Watch for If I’m Working Past 65?

Direct answer: The core question of whether you can delay Medicare Part B while working depends on your employer’s size — covered in detail here. But several specific traps catch people even after they understand that basic rule: assuming COBRA counts as active coverage (it doesn’t), assuming you can keep an ACA marketplace plan affordably past 65 (you generally can’t), and assuming that having a retirement package means you’re covered when actually both spouses have already retired (you’re not). Each of these has real financial consequences if you get it wrong.

Does COBRA Count as Active Employer Coverage?

No — and this is one of the most consequential misunderstandings in this whole topic. To delay Medicare Part B without penalty, your employer coverage must be active, meaning it comes from your current job or your working spouse’s current job right now. COBRA continuation coverage, even though it technically continues your former employer’s plan, does not count as active coverage for Medicare enrollment purposes.

If you’re relying on COBRA and assuming it gives you more time before you need Medicare, you’re likely accumulating a late enrollment penalty during that entire period without realizing it. This is worth confirming directly rather than assuming, since the consequences are permanent.

What If Both My Spouse and I Are Already Retired?

If you have a retirement package but both you and your spouse are retired — meaning neither of you has active employer coverage — you generally need to enroll in Medicare Part B to avoid penalties, regardless of what retirement health benefits you might still have. Retiree health coverage isn’t the same as active employer coverage in Medicare’s eyes, even when it’s provided by a former employer and even when it looks similar to what you had while working.

Can I Just Keep My ACA Marketplace Plan Instead of Enrolling in Medicare?

Technically, yes, you can keep an ACA plan at 65 — but it’s rarely the financially sound choice. Once you’re eligible for Medicare, you lose access to ACA premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, which means your ACA plan’s real cost goes up substantially exactly when Medicare becomes available as a typically more cost-effective alternative. For most people in this situation, transitioning to Medicare at eligibility, rather than staying on an ACA plan, is the more financially sound path.

Should I Compare My Employer Plan’s Cost to Medicare Before Deciding to Delay?

Yes, even if you’re eligible to delay without penalty. Just because you can delay Medicare doesn’t automatically mean staying on your employer’s group plan is the better financial choice. Compare the two directly: premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and annual out-of-pocket maximums on both sides. Depending on your employer plan’s specific cost structure, Medicare — potentially paired with a Medigap Supplement — can sometimes work out to be the more cost-effective option even while you’re still eligible to stay on your group plan.

How Does Medicare Coordinate With My Employer Coverage If I Enroll in Both?

If you do enroll in Medicare while keeping active employer coverage, Medicare generally acts as your secondary insurer, with your employer plan paying first, until you retire or lose that employer coverage — whichever happens first. At that point, Medicare becomes your primary coverage automatically.

What Else Should I Know Before Making This Decision?

A few points that apply regardless of which path you choose:

• Enrolling in any part of Medicare ends HSA contribution eligibility — including premium-free Part A alone, which can seem like an easy “why not” enrollment but has this real trade-off attached.
• Medicare doesn’t cover your spouse or children. If you enroll in Medicare and drop employer coverage, you’ll need a separate plan for family members who were covered under that policy — talk to your employer’s benefits administrator about COBRA or other options before making the switch.

Bottom Line

Working past 65 genuinely does give you options, but several of the details — COBRA not counting as active coverage, both-spouses-retired triggering mandatory enrollment, ACA plans losing their subsidies at Medicare eligibility — are easy to get wrong and expensive to get wrong permanently. Comparing your actual employer plan costs against Medicare, rather than assuming delay is automatically the better choice, and confirming your specific situation against these common pitfalls before you decide, is what actually protects you from a late enrollment penalty or an avoidably expensive coverage gap.

Key Takeaways

• COBRA continuation coverage does not count as active employer coverage for Medicare enrollment purposes, even though it continues your former employer’s plan.
• If both you and your spouse are retired, you generally need to enroll in Medicare Part B, even with a retirement package, since retiree coverage isn’t active employer coverage.
• Keeping an ACA marketplace plan past 65 means losing premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, usually making it the less cost-effective choice compared to Medicare.
• Even if you’re eligible to delay Medicare, comparing your actual employer plan costs against Medicare directly is worth doing rather than assuming delay is automatically better.
• Enrolling in any part of Medicare, including premium-free Part A, ends your HSA contribution eligibility.
• Medicare doesn’t cover spouses or children, so dropping employer coverage requires a separate plan for family members.

FAQ – Working Past 65

Does COBRA count as creditable coverage for delaying Medicare?
No. COBRA is not considered active employer coverage, so relying on it to delay Medicare enrollment without penalty is a common and costly mistake.

Do I have to enroll in Medicare if both my spouse and I are retired?
Generally yes. Without active employer coverage from either of you, retiree benefits don’t exempt you from Medicare’s enrollment requirements the way active coverage does.

Can I keep my ACA plan after turning 65 instead of enrolling in Medicare?
Technically yes, but you’ll lose ACA premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, which usually makes Medicare the more cost-effective choice.

Should I compare costs before deciding to delay Medicare while working?
Yes. Being eligible to delay doesn’t mean it’s automatically the cheaper option — compare your employer plan’s premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximum directly against Medicare’s costs.

Does enrolling in Medicare affect my HSA?
Yes. Enrolling in any part of Medicare, including Part A alone, ends your eligibility to contribute to a Health Savings Account.

Does Medicare cover my spouse if I enroll while still working?
No. Medicare only covers you individually — your spouse and any dependents need separate coverage if you drop your employer plan.

Medicare Enrollment | 3 Key Periods You Need to Know

What Are the Key Medicare Enrollment Periods?

Direct answer: There are three enrollment periods every Medicare beneficiary should know: the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), your first chance to sign up when you become eligible; the General Enrollment Period (GEP), a fallback if you miss your IEP; and the Annual Election Period (AEP), your yearly opportunity to review and switch coverage. Missing the right window at the right time can mean permanent penalties or gaps in coverage — understanding all three now means you won’t be scrambling to figure it out later.

What Is the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)?

Your Initial Enrollment Period is your first opportunity to enroll in Medicare — a seven-month window centered on your 65th birthday: it starts three months before your birthday month, includes your birthday month, and extends three months after. That’s a genuinely generous amount of time to enroll in Part A and Part B, avoid late enrollment penalties, and ensure your coverage starts without a gap.

This is the window worth marking clearly on your calendar, since it’s the one that determines whether you avoid penalties entirely, rather than needing a fallback option later.

What Is the General Enrollment Period (GEP)?

If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, the General Enrollment Period is your second chance — an annual window each winter open to anyone who missed their original opportunity.

An important update if you’re working from older information: coverage through the General Enrollment Period now begins the month immediately following your enrollment, rather than being delayed for an extended period as it once was under older rules. This is a meaningful improvement, but it doesn’t erase the real downside of missing your IEP in the first place — you may still face a permanent late enrollment penalty for Part B if you didn’t have other creditable coverage during the gap, and you could experience a coverage gap in the meantime. Better late than never, but genuinely better on time — the GEP is a safety net, not a strategy.

What Is the Annual Election Period (AEP)?

The Annual Election Period happens every year each fall, giving you the opportunity to review your current Medicare coverage and make changes for the following year — switching Medicare Advantage plans, moving between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, or changing your Part D prescription drug plan.

Think of it as an annual check-in rather than a one-time decision: your health needs change, your medications change, and plan details themselves change year to year — a plan that fit well last year isn’t guaranteed to be the best fit going forward. AEP is built specifically for that kind of course correction.

Are There Other Enrollment Periods Worth Knowing?

Beyond these three, a couple of others are worth being aware of even though they’re more situational: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, a shorter window early in the year available only if you’re already enrolled in Medicare Advantage and want to make one additional change, and Special Enrollment Periods, triggered by specific qualifying events like losing employer coverage or moving. These don’t apply to everyone every year, but knowing they exist matters if your situation changes outside the standard windows.

Bottom Line

Three windows govern most Medicare enrollment decisions: your Initial Enrollment Period sets the tone by determining whether you avoid penalties from the start, the General Enrollment Period is a fallback with real trade-offs if you miss your first opportunity, and the Annual Election Period is your recurring chance to fine-tune coverage as your needs change. Knowing which window applies to your situation — and acting within it rather than after it closes — is the single most effective way to avoid unnecessary penalties or coverage gaps. Whether you’re approaching your Initial Enrollment Period, catching up after a missed window, or just reviewing your options during AEP, an independent Medicare broker can help make sure you’re making informed decisions at no cost to you.

Key Takeaways

• The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month window centered on your 65th birthday — your best opportunity to enroll without penalties.
• The General Enrollment Period (GEP) is an annual fallback each winter for anyone who missed their IEP, with coverage now starting the month after enrollment.
• Missing your IEP and relying on the GEP can still mean a permanent late enrollment penalty and a possible coverage gap, even with the improved coverage-start timing.
• The Annual Election Period (AEP) happens every year each fall, letting you review and switch Medicare Advantage, Part D, or Original Medicare coverage for the following year.
• Additional situational windows — the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period and Special Enrollment Periods — apply in more specific circumstances.
• Acting within your correct enrollment window, rather than after it closes, is the most effective way to avoid penalties and coverage gaps.

FAQ – Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained

What is the Initial Enrollment Period?
A seven-month window centered on your 65th birthday during which you can first enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B without facing late penalties.

What happens if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period?
You can enroll during the General Enrollment Period, an annual fallback window, but you may face a permanent late enrollment penalty and a temporary coverage gap depending on your situation.

When does coverage start if I enroll during the General Enrollment Period?
Coverage now begins the month immediately following your enrollment, an improvement over the longer delay that used to apply under older rules.

What is the Annual Election Period?
A yearly window each fall during which you can review and change your Medicare Advantage, Part D, or Original Medicare coverage for the following year.

Can I make changes to my Medicare Advantage plan outside of AEP?
In limited cases, yes — the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period offers one additional change early in the year if you’re already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, and Special Enrollment Periods apply for specific qualifying events.

Why does it matter which enrollment period applies to me?
Because acting in the wrong window, or missing your window entirely, can result in permanent penalties, coverage gaps, or being unable to make a plan change until the next available period.

Medicare Enrollment | Don’t Procrastinate !

Why Shouldn’t I Wait Until the Last Minute to Make Medicare Changes?

Direct answer: Medicare enrollment periods and deadlines are firm, and applications can fail for reasons entirely outside your control — system errors, provider offices being unreachable over a holiday, carrier processing delays. If you wait until the final days of an enrollment window to make a change, you leave yourself no cushion to fix a problem before your current coverage lapses or a new plan fails to take effect on time. For anyone with ongoing treatment needs, that gap isn’t just an inconvenience — it can mean a real interruption in care.

What Actually Goes Wrong When People Wait?

Here’s a real situation that illustrates exactly why timing matters. A client’s Medicare Advantage plan dropped the doctors and hospital he’d trusted for years — a change he didn’t discover until reaching out for help right before a holiday weekend, well after the Annual Election Period had already closed.

Confirming which of his other providers were still in-network took real effort — hours of back-and-forth with the carrier and multiple provider offices, many of which were closed or short-staffed for the holidays. By the time everything was sorted out and the new plan enrollment was actually submitted, it was the very last business day available.

Then the carrier’s system rejected the application for an unclear reason — with no one available to resolve it until after another holiday weekend had passed.

Why Did the Timing Matter So Much in This Case?

Because this client relies on regular infusion treatments — comparable to chemotherapy — where continuity of care isn’t optional. He can’t simply pause treatment and wait weeks for new authorizations to clear. Each treatment session carries a substantial cost on its own, and across a full year of regular infusions, the total cost of care reaches a genuinely enormous figure. A coverage gap here isn’t just a paperwork problem — it’s a real financial and medical risk stacked on top of an already serious health situation.

Fortunately, he has good people working on his behalf, and the situation is being sorted out. But none of the stress, the frantic holiday phone calls, or the risk of a coverage gap needed to happen. A wider time cushion before the deadline would have prevented nearly all of it.

What Should I Actually Do to Avoid This?

• Review your coverage well before your enrollment window closes — not in the final days. Give yourself enough time to catch problems like a dropped provider or network change before they become urgent.
• Confirm your providers are still in-network every year, even if you’re happy with your current plan — networks change annually, sometimes without much notice.
• Don’t submit applications during a holiday period if you can avoid it. Carrier support and provider offices are frequently unavailable or short-staffed, which turns a routine problem into a multi-day delay.
• If you have ongoing treatment needs, treat your enrollment review as high-priority each year, since a coverage gap affects you differently — and more seriously — than it would someone without regular care needs.
• Reach out for help early, not at the last possible moment. The earlier a problem surfaces, the more options and time exist to fix it before a deadline passes.

Bottom Line

Medicare’s enrollment deadlines are real, and the consequences of missing your window — or cutting it too close — can extend well beyond paperwork frustration into genuine gaps in care, especially for anyone managing an ongoing treatment plan. Building in a real time cushion before your deadline, rather than waiting until the final days, is the single most effective way to avoid a situation like this. If your circumstances are complex or your treatment needs are ongoing, reach out for help well before your window closes, not after.

Key Takeaways

• Medicare enrollment deadlines are firm, and applications can fail for reasons entirely outside your control, so leaving yourself a time cushion matters.
• Confirm your providers are still in-network every year, even with a plan you’re otherwise happy with — networks can change annually.
• Waiting until the final days of an enrollment window, especially around holidays, significantly increases the risk that a problem can’t be resolved in time.
• Continuity of care is especially critical for anyone with regular ongoing treatment, where even a short coverage gap carries real medical and financial risk.
• Reaching out for help early — well before a deadline, not at the last moment — preserves the most options if something goes wrong.

FAQ – Enroll in Medicare

Why does it matter if I wait until the last minute to enroll in Medicare?
Because applications can fail for reasons outside your control — system errors, unavailable carrier support, unreachable provider offices — and waiting until the final days leaves no time to fix these issues before a deadline passes.

How do I know if my providers are still in-network for my plan?
Check every year during your plan’s enrollment window, even if you’re satisfied with your current coverage — provider networks can and do change annually, sometimes without much advance notice.

What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan drops my doctor or hospital?
You’ll need to either find in-network alternatives or switch plans during your next available enrollment window — which is exactly why catching this early, rather than discovering it after your window has closed, matters so much.

Why is continuity of care especially important for ongoing treatments?
Regular treatments, like infusion therapy, often can’t simply pause while new authorizations are processed. A coverage gap for someone in this situation carries real medical and financial consequences beyond a typical enrollment delay.

When should I start reviewing my Medicare coverage each year?
As early as possible within your enrollment window, rather than waiting until the final days — this gives you time to catch and fix problems like network changes before they become urgent.

What is Medicare

What Is Medicare?

Direct answer: Medicare is federal health insurance primarily for people age 65 and older, plus certain younger people with qualifying disabilities or specific medical conditions. It’s built from four parts: Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), Part C (Medicare Advantage, a private-plan alternative), and Part D (prescription drug coverage). It isn’t free — most people pay no premium for Part A, but Part B carries a monthly premium along with deductibles and coinsurance. Getting your enrollment timing right matters, since missing your window can mean a permanent penalty added to your premium for as long as you’re on Medicare.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare?

• Age 65 or older, if you’re a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. continuously for at least five years.
• A sufficient work history — you or your spouse having paid Medicare taxes for roughly ten years (40 work quarters) — typically makes Part A premium-free.
• Under 65 with a qualifying disability: generally after receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a set period.
• Specific conditions regardless of age: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and ALS both qualify immediately, without a waiting period tied to disability benefits.

The Four Parts of Medicare

Part A (Hospital)

• What it covers: Inpatient hospital stays, short-term skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and limited home health services.
• Typical cost: Usually premium-free if you have sufficient work history. A deductible applies if you are hospitalized.

Part B (Medical)

• What it covers: Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, lab tests, and durable medical equipment.
• Typical cost: Requires a monthly premium for everyone, along with an annual deductible and standard coinsurance.

Part C (Medicare Advantage)

• What it covers: Private “all-in-one” plans that combine Part A, Part B, and usually Part D, often including additional benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
• Typical cost: Costs vary by plan, and you must continue paying your Part B premium.

Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)

• What it covers: Prescription medication coverage through private insurance plans with plan-specific formularies.
• Typical cost: Costs vary by plan. Higher-income beneficiaries may also pay an income-related monthly surcharge.

Parts A and B together are called Original Medicare. With Original Medicare, you can see any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare — no network restrictions. Medicare Advantage trades that nationwide flexibility for a private network and typically added benefits.

What Doesn’t Medicare Cover?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t include routine dental, vision, or hearing care, and doesn’t include prescription drug coverage unless you separately enroll in Part D. Just as importantly, Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum — unlike Medicare Advantage plans, which are required to cap your yearly spending. This is one of the most consequential gaps in Original Medicare, and it’s the main reason many beneficiaries pair it with a Medigap supplement policy or choose Medicare Advantage instead.

How Do I Enroll in Medicare?

If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, enrollment in Parts A and B typically happens automatically, with your Medicare card arriving in the mail before your coverage begins.

If you’re not automatically enrolled, you need to sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period — a seven-month window:

• Starts three months before the month you turn 65.
• Includes your birthday month.
• Ends three months after your birthday month.

Missing this window without a qualifying reason to delay can trigger a permanent late enrollment penalty added to your premium.

What If I’m Still Working When I Turn 65?

This depends on your employer’s size, and it’s a detail worth getting right:

• If your employer has 20 or more employees, your group health plan is generally considered primary, and you can typically delay Medicare Part B without penalty until that employer coverage ends, then use a Special Enrollment Period to sign up.
• If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare generally becomes primary once you’re eligible, and you usually need to enroll in Part B when first eligible to avoid a coverage gap — even if you’re still working and covered by the employer plan.

This distinction catches a lot of people off guard. Don’t assume you can delay Part B just because you have employer coverage — confirm your employer’s size and how their plan coordinates with Medicare before making that call, ideally by talking with your company’s benefits administrator.

Bottom Line

Medicare is the federal health insurance foundation for retirement healthcare, built from four distinct parts that cover different needs — hospital care, outpatient care, private-plan alternatives, and prescriptions. The details that trip people up most: Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket cap, working past 65 doesn’t always mean you can delay Part B safely, and enrollment timing carries permanent financial consequences if missed. Start with your enrollment window, confirm your specific work situation if you’re still employed, and don’t hesitate to get guided help — you don’t have to sort all of this out alone. An independent Medicare broker can walk through your specific situation at no cost to you.

Key Takeaways

• Medicare consists of four parts: Part A (hospital), Part B (medical/outpatient), Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Part D (prescription drugs).
• Medicare isn’t free — Part A is usually premium-free, but Part B carries a monthly premium plus deductibles and coinsurance for everyone.
• Original Medicare (Parts A and B) has no annual out-of-pocket maximum, a significant gap often addressed with Medigap or by choosing Medicare Advantage instead.
• Your Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month window centered on your 65th birthday — missing it without a qualifying delay can trigger a permanent penalty.
• If you’re still working at 65, whether you can safely delay Part B depends on your employer’s size (specifically, whether they have 20 or more employees).
• Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care, and doesn’t include prescription coverage unless you separately enroll in Part D.

FAQ

Is Medicare free?
No. Most people pay no premium for Part A, but Part B has a monthly premium for everyone, plus deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for covered services.

Does Medicare cover dental and vision?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental or vision care. Many people choose a Medicare Advantage plan specifically to get these added benefits.

Can I keep my current doctor?
With Original Medicare, yes — you can see any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare. With Medicare Advantage, you’ll generally need to use a doctor within that plan’s network.

What if I’m still working when I turn 65?
It depends on your employer’s size. With 20 or more employees, you can typically delay Part B without penalty. With fewer than 20 employees, you usually need to enroll in Part B when first eligible.

Does Original Medicare have a cap on what I’ll pay?
No. Parts A and B combined have no annual out-of-pocket maximum, which is why many people add a Medigap policy or choose Medicare Advantage, which does include a spending cap.

What happens if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period?
You may face a permanent late enrollment penalty added to your premium, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, most commonly due to active employer coverage.

Who is eligible for Medicare?
People 65 and older who are U.S. citizens or long-term legal residents, people under 65 with a qualifying disability, and people with ESRD or ALS regardless of age.