Signing Up for Medicare

There are specific times that you can sign up for Medicare. 

The first is when you turn 65 called the initial enrollment period. 

You can sign up three months before your 65th birthday and three months after.

The second is called the special enrollment period for people that want to stay on their employer plan through themselves or a spouse. 

This applies only to people that work for a company with 20+ employees.

You will sign up for Medicare Part A which is free but don’t have to sign up for Part B until you or your spouse terminate with the company. 

As long as continuous coverage is maintained, you can sign for Part B up to eight months after termination. 

If your company is less than 20 employees you have to sign up immediately for Parts A and B and D. 

The third is the general enrollment period which is from January 1 to March 31 each year with coverage starting the month after enrollment.