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Upon turning 65, you officially become eligible to enroll in Medicare. If you already get Social Security benefits, then you will most likely be automatically signed up for the service. For individuals who are not automatically enrolled, follow this guide to learn about the best way to sign up for coverage.

When to Sign Up for Medicare

Initial Enrollment

Everyone is given an initial time frame to sign up for Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D. The seven-month period begins three months before your 65th birthday and extends to three months after your birthday month. Signing up for your choice of plans during the enrollment period helps you avoid penalties as a result of late registration.

Special Enrollment

medicareIf you're covered by an employer's or partner's healthcare plan, you may not want to sign up for Medicare during the initial seven-month period. In such circumstances, you can avoid a penalty by requesting a special enrollment period within eight months of the existing coverage ending for Parts A and B or 63 days for Parts C or D. However, many individuals qualify for Part A without any out-of-pocket expenses, so you may want to go ahead and sign up for it anyway.

General Enrollment

Every year, there are two enrollment periods where individuals can sign up for new plans or switch their current ones. But, the rules differ slightly between each. The first one begins on January 1 and ends March 31, and you can sign up for Part A and Part B. However, individuals enrolled in Original Medicare aren't allowed to sign up for Plan D during general enrollment or change to a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

Open Enrollment

The second enrollment period for the year occurs between October 15 and December 7. Open enrollment is much less restrictive than the general option at the beginning of the year. During this time, you can enroll in Plan A, Plan B, and Plan D or sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan.

 

If you’re about to become eligible for Medicare, turn to us, your local medicare experts!  We are here to help you better understand your coverage options and evaluate policies side-by-side. For years, we've assisted residents across the Ozarks with finding the right coverage for their unique needs. Learn more about all of the companies we represent by scheduling an appointment with Steven.  Call us today at (417) 926-7900 or (417) 257-4274. 

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