Free checklist · New to Medicare
Turning 65? Your Medicare Checklist
Turning 65 comes with a lot of mail, a lot of choices and a few deadlines that really matter. Miss one and you can end up paying a penalty for as long as you have Medicare.
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This one-page checklist lays out what to do and when, from six months before your birthday until after you enroll, so nothing slips through the cracks.
What's inside
- A timeline from 6 months before 65 through enrollment
- How your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period works
- When to choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- The best window to get a Medicare Supplement
- Three costly mistakes, and how to avoid them
Key things to know
Your 7-month sign-up window
It runs 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and 3 months after. Signing up early helps your coverage start on time.
Already getting Social Security?
You'll be signed up for Parts A and B automatically, and your card arrives in the mail. If not, apply at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security.
The best time for a Medicare Supplement
The 6 months after you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. During that window you can't be turned down for health reasons.
Don't go without drug coverage
Going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage can mean a Part D penalty that lasts for life.
Common questions
I'm still working at 65. Do I need to sign up for Medicare?
It depends on your employer coverage, including how many people work there. Ask your employer how their plan works with Medicare. Only coverage from a job you or your spouse currently have lets you delay Part B without a penalty.
Can COBRA or retiree coverage let me delay Part B?
No. Neither one counts for delaying Part B without a penalty. A late Part B sign-up can add 10% to your premium for each full year you waited.
I have a Health Savings Account (HSA). What should I know?
Ask about stopping contributions before you enroll, because Part A can backdate up to 6 months.
Who it's for: Anyone turning 65 in the next year, and family members helping a parent get ready for Medicare.
