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When to Enroll in Medicare at 65
Short answer: most people should sign up for Medicare during their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday. That window starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it.
Your Initial Enrollment Period
- Sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month: coverage starts the first day of your birthday month.
- Sign up in your birthday month or the 3 months after: coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
If your birthday is on the first of the month, your Initial Enrollment Period starts and ends one month earlier.
Will I be enrolled automatically?
If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you will usually be enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically and your Medicare card will arrive in the mail. If you do not get those benefits yet, you need to sign up through Social Security at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
What if I am still working?
If you or your spouse have health coverage from a current employer, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. When that job or coverage ends, you generally have 8 months to sign up for Part B through a Special Enrollment Period. Check whether your employer plan is considered primary or secondary to Medicare, because that can affect whether you should enroll now.
Why signing up on time matters
If you do not sign up for Part B when you are first eligible and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may pay a late enrollment penalty of 10% of the standard premium for each full 12-month period you went without Part B, for as long as you have Part B. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month. Part D has its own penalty if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage.
Month-by-month enrollment timeline at 65
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 months before your 65th birthday month | Check whether you already get Social Security benefits (you will usually be enrolled automatically). Ask your employer how its plan works with Medicare if you are still working. |
| 3 months before (IEP opens) | Sign up for Part A and Part B if you are not enrolled automatically. Signing up now means Part B starts the first day of your birthday month. |
| 2 to 1 months before | Compare Medigap, Part D and Medicare Advantage options so your coverage can start with Part B. |
| Your birthday month | If you sign up now, Part B starts the first day of the next month. |
| 1 to 3 months after | Last months of your IEP. Signing up now still avoids the Part B penalty; coverage starts the month after you sign up. |
| First 6 months of Part B (age 65+) | Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the strongest time to buy a Medigap policy without health questions. |
Example: if you turn 65 in July, your IEP runs from April 1 to October 31. Sign up in April, May or June and Part B starts July 1.
Enrolling later than 65
If you are covered by a current employer plan, see Medicare and working past 65. If you miss your IEP without other coverage, the General Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31 and penalties may apply, including the Part D late enrollment penalty.
After you sign up
Once you have Part A and Part B you can choose how to get the rest of your coverage: add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy and a Part D drug plan, or join a Medicare Advantage Plan. See how to compare Medicare plans and the full list of Medicare enrollment periods.
Frequently asked questions
How early can I sign up for Medicare?
You can sign up 3 months before the month you turn 65. That is the start of your Initial Enrollment Period.
Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I am still working?
Not always. If you have health coverage from your or your spouse’s current job, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty and sign up within 8 months after that coverage or job ends.
How do I sign up for Medicare?
If you are not enrolled automatically, sign up for Part A and Part B through Social Security online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at your local Social Security office.
What is the penalty for signing up for Medicare late?
The Part B late enrollment penalty adds 10% of the standard premium for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not, and it usually lasts as long as you have Part B.
Talk with a licensed agent
Questions about your Medicare options? Call 1-844-438-6284 (TTY 711) or request a free, no-obligation quote. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
Sources for 2026 figures: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles; Medicare.gov: Medicare costs; Medicare.gov: Part D costs. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).