Initial Enrollment Period · Greensboro, NC
Build your Medicare timeline before 65
You don’t have to sort out Medicare on your own. We can review when to enroll, how your current coverage fits, and the doctors and prescriptions you want covered. I’ll help you understand your next steps.
- Licensed in North Carolina
- Personal review from a local agent
- Meet in person or by phone
- Free consultation. No obligation.
A few dates.
A lot less guesswork.
See when your enrollment window opens, when coverage could start, and when your initial window ends.
- Your dates, in plain English
- Save them to your calendar
- Ask for help whenever you’re ready
The four things to get right
- 1
Find the month you turn 65
Your Initial Enrollment Period usually covers seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. If your birthday is on the first of the month, the dates shift one month earlier.
- 2
Enroll in the three months before your birthday month if you want coverage on time
For most people, enrolling before the birthday month allows Part B to begin when they turn 65. Enrolling during or after that month generally means coverage begins the following month. Use the date tool below to check your estimated timeline.
- 3
Know the Part B late penalty before you delay
Miss the window without coverage that lets you delay, and the penalty is 10% of the standard Part B premium for every full 12 months of delay, charged for as long as you hold Part B. It is permanent. The usual exception is still working, with a group health plan based on current employment — yours or your spouse’s. A retiree plan does not count, and neither does COBRA.
- 4
Mark the six-month Medigap window separately
Your Medigap open enrollment period begins the first month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It lasts six months and provides protections when buying a policy. Other protections may apply in certain situations, so check before changing coverage later.
If your seven-month window has already passed, there is a General Enrollment Period every year from January 1 through March 31, and Part B coverage starts the month after you sign up. A late penalty can still apply. Medicare.gov explains when coverage starts.
Your doctors and the plans available where you live
Medicare Advantage options can vary by county. A personal review starts with where you live, the doctors you see, and the care you need. We’ll check prescription coverage too.
Provider networks and prescription coverage can change. Check the doctors and medications you need for the plan year you’re considering.
Medicare help in your community
Already on Medicare instead?
Already on Medicare? Annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. It’s a chance to review your coverage for the coming year and decide whether to keep it or make a change.
Questions people ask before they turn 65
- When does my Medicare Initial Enrollment Period start?
- Three months before the month you turn 65. It includes that birthday month and the three months after, for seven months total. Coverage starts on time only if you enroll in the first three months of that window.
- I am still working. Do I have to sign up at 65?
- Not always. If you have a group health plan based on current employment — yours or your spouse’s — you can usually delay Part B without the late penalty, and you get a special enrollment period when that job-based coverage ends. Retiree coverage and COBRA do not count the same way: Medicare does not treat COBRA as coverage based on current employment. This is worth checking against your actual plan, not a rule of thumb.
- What is the difference between turning 65 and annual enrollment?
- Your Initial Enrollment Period is based on your 65th birthday. Annual enrollment, from October 15 to December 7, is a separate opportunity to review or change Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage. We can help you identify the dates that apply to you.
- Can I keep my doctor?
- Original Medicare lets you see providers who accept Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans generally use networks. We can check your doctors and hospitals for the specific plan and year you’re considering.
- Do you meet in person in Greensboro?
- We can meet at your home, at a convenient public location, or by phone. Your consultation is no cost, with no obligation to enroll. You’ll work directly with me.
- What does this cost?
- Nothing to sit down and walk through your dates, your doctors, and your options. If you enroll in a plan through me, the insurance company pays a commission. Your premium is not higher for using an agent.
Ready to review your Medicare timeline?
Get a personal review of your dates, current coverage, and next steps. Meet in person or by phone.
Free consultation in person or by phone. Appointments daily at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm, Eastern time.