Enrollment Windows
When Can You Actually Enroll?

Timing is everything with Medicare. Miss the wrong window and you could pay a penalty for as long as you have coverage. Even worse, you could miss out on the chance to get a Medigap plan with guaranteed acceptance, no health screening required!

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Window	When It Happens	What It's For
Initial Enrollment Period	7 months around your 65th birthday (3 months before, your birthday month, 3 months after)	Your first chance to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B
Medigap Open Enrollment	The 6 months right after your Part B coverage starts, as long as you're 65 or older	Your key guaranteed window to buy a Medigap plan without medical underwriting
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)	October 15 through December 7, every year	Switch, join, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the following year
General Enrollment Period	January 1 through March 31	A catch-up window if you missed your Initial Enrollment Period
Special Enrollment Period	Available after certain qualifying life events, such as losing employer coverage or moving	Enroll outside the normal windows when you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period

Why Timing Matters

Miss your Part B enrollment without other creditable coverage, and the penalty gets added to your premium for as long as you have Medicare. It doesn't go away.
Not ever.
The Medigap Open Enrollment window is the one people miss most often, because nobody tells them it exists! Once it closes, getting a Medigap plan can mean medical underwriting, and a carrier can turn you down.
This is exactly the kind of timing I keep track of so you don't have to. Let's map out your dates before anything sneaks up on you!

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