Day 2: How to enroll in Original Medicare

Avoid penalties by enrolling on time.

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DAY 2 OF 4 When you can enroll in Original Medicare At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we'll say once more that you must be enrolled in Original Medicare before you can enroll in any of the other parts of Medicare. If you get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you may be automatically enrolled. For everyone else, there are three enrollment periods in which you can enroll in Original Medicare. (How to check your Medicare application status.) Initial enrollment period Initial enrollment period (IEP) is a 7-month enrollment period surrounding your 65th birthday. Your IEP starts 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. This is the time that most new enrollees sign up for Medicare. (One important caveat: If your birthday falls on the first of the month, your initial enrollment period starts 4 months before you turn 65 and ends 2 months after the month you turn 65.) Missing your initial enrollment period may lead to late enrollment penalties, which may be lifelong, for Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, and Medicare Part D. So be sure to make note of your initial enrollment period for the future. Click the image above to download a printable version! General enrollment (January 1 to March 31) If you miss your initial enrollment period, you can enroll during general enrollment. This occurs during the first 3 months of each calendar year. (As we said above, enrolling in Original Medicare during this time will likely result in a penalty.) Special enrollment period Certain life events qualify you to enroll in Original Medicare during a special enrollment period. Some of the more common qualifying life events include moving to a new ZIP code, or if you were working when you became eligible for Medicare and are no longer employed. What if you already have health insurance through your employer? Medicare is meant to work with your employer health plans. But depending on your company's size, you may choose to enroll in Medicare when you first become eligible to avoid a Part B penalty, or to delay enrollment. Once you retire and no longer have an employer health insurance plan, you will qualify for a special enrollment period of 8 months to enroll in Original Medicare (if you haven't already). ONE THING YOU CAN DO TODAY Sponsored by   Enroll in Original Medicare today   If you're currently within one of the enrollment periods mentioned above, you can enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B directly through the Social Security Administration: online by calling its toll-free number: 1-800-633-4227 by visiting a Social Security office in person (find your local office here) If you're not currently within an enrollment period, mark the dates that apply to you or set a reminder so you're ready when the time comes. Tomorrow, we'll explore Medicare Advantage and share a free resource to help you choose a plan. Take care, The Healthline Team Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan with HelloMedicare   See a list of Medicare Advantage plans in your area that may be suited to your unique needs with HelloMedicare™. VIEW PLANS CALL NOW If you want more information about Medicare Advantage plans, you can speak to a licensed agent by calling 844-238-8875. TTY: 711 from 5am to 12am CST. Until next time, Take care of yourself, and we'll see you again soon! View in browser Did a friend send you this email? Subscribe here. To see all newsletters, click here. Privacy   |   Unsubscribe We may feature your messages to our inbox within our content. Please do not provide any personal identifiable information. Replies may be edited for length and clarity. For more, see our Privacy Policy. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Healthline does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional. Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Now's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health. © 2025 RVO Health 1101 Red Ventures Drive Fort Mill, SC 29707