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Medicare Enrollment Periods: IEP, GEP, SEP and Open Enrollment
Medicare has set times of year when you can sign up for coverage or make changes. Signing up on time helps you avoid gaps in coverage and lifelong late enrollment penalties. Here is how each enrollment period works in 2026.
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
| Enrollment period | Dates | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) | 7 months: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after | Sign up for Part A and Part B. You can also join a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Part D drug plan. |
| Fall Open Enrollment (Annual Enrollment Period) | October 15 to December 7 each year | Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage Plans, or join, switch or drop a Part D plan. Changes start January 1. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 to March 31 | If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or go back to Original Medicare (and join a Part D plan) one time. |
| General Enrollment Period (GEP) | January 1 to March 31 | Sign up for Part A and/or Part B if you missed your IEP and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Coverage starts the month after you sign up. Late penalties may apply. |
| Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) | Varies by situation | For example, if you or your spouse are still working and have job-based health coverage, you can usually sign up for Part B during the 8 months after that job or coverage ends, whichever happens first. |
| Medigap Open Enrollment Period | 6 months, starting the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older | Buy any Medigap policy sold in your state without being turned down or charged more because of your health. |
Initial Enrollment Period: your first chance to sign up
Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after your birthday month. If you sign up before your birthday month, Part B coverage starts the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up during your birthday month or later in your Initial Enrollment Period, coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you are usually enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically. See what happens when you turn 65.
Fall Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7
Every fall you can review your coverage and make changes for the next year. Plans can change their premiums, drug lists and networks each year, so it is worth comparing your options. A licensed agent can run a free annual review for you.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make one change during this period: switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan, or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare. If you go back to Original Medicare, you can also join a Part D drug plan.
General Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31
If you missed your Initial Enrollment Period and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Part A and Part B during the General Enrollment Period. Coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up. You may pay a Part B late enrollment penalty of 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not sign up.
Special Enrollment Periods
Certain life events let you sign up or change plans outside the usual windows, such as losing job-based coverage, moving out of your plan's service area, or qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help. If you are still working at 65 and have health coverage through your or your spouse's current job, you can usually delay Part B and sign up later without a penalty.
A year on the Medicare calendar
- January 1: new plan year begins; Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026) and deductibles reset.
- January 1 to March 31: General Enrollment Period and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
- Late September: plans mail the Annual Notice of Change describing next year's costs and benefits.
- October 1: plans can begin marketing for next year; the Medicare Plan Finder shows next year's plans.
- October 15 to December 7: Fall Open Enrollment.
- Any time: Special Needs Plans and certain Special Enrollment Periods, if you qualify.
Common Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)
- Losing job-based coverage: generally 8 months to sign up for Part B; usually 2 months to join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- Moving out of your plan's service area or to a new area with new plan options.
- Qualifying for Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help. See Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help in Texas.
- Moving into or out of a nursing home or other institution.
Medigap Open Enrollment
Your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. During this time, insurance companies must sell you any Medigap policy they offer at the same price as people in good health. After it ends, companies in most states can use medical underwriting. Learn more about Medicare and pre-existing conditions.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027 coverage?
Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make during this time start January 1, 2027.
When should I sign up for Medicare if I am turning 65?
Sign up during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, which starts 3 months before the month you turn 65. Signing up in the first 3 months lets Part B start on the first day of your birthday month.
What happens if I miss my Medicare enrollment period?
You can usually sign up during the General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, with coverage starting the next month. You may pay a Part B late enrollment penalty unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Can I change my Medicare Advantage plan after January 1?
Yes. During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan or return to Original Medicare one time.
When is the best time to buy a Medigap policy?
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the 6 months starting the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. During this time you cannot be turned down or charged more because of your health.
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).