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Medicare Timeline: Key Dates to Know

Before You Turn 65

When	What to Do
12 months before turning 65	Start learning about Medicare options. Contact Joel for a free overview.
6 months before	If retiring, coordinate employer coverage end date with Medicare start date.
3 months before your birthday month	Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) begins. You can enroll in Medicare Parts A & B.
Your birthday month	Ideal time to enroll. Also your Medigap Open Enrollment begins (if you enroll in Part B).
3 months after your birthday month	Last month of your IEP. Enroll by now to avoid delays and penalties.

Annual Medicare Calendar

Period	Dates	What Happens
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)	October 15 – December 7	Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for next year
Open Enrollment Period (OEP)	January 1 – March 31	Switch from one MA plan to another, or drop MA and return to Original Medicare
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) OEP	6 months starting the month you turn 65 + have Part B	Best time to buy Medigap — guaranteed issue, no health questions
General Enrollment Period	January 1 – March 31	For those who missed their IEP (late enrollment penalties may apply)

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Medicare Enrollment Checklist

✅ Turning 65? Use This Checklist

• ☐ Verify your Social Security status — Are you already receiving benefits? If so, you may be auto-enrolled in Parts A & B.
• ☐ Check employer coverage — If still working, determine if your employer plan is “creditable coverage.” Talk to HR.
• ☐ Decide: Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage — Understand the pros and cons of each path.
• ☐ If choosing Original Medicare:
  • ☐ Enroll in Part A and Part B
  • ☐ Consider a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan
  • ☐ Enroll in a standalone Part D (prescription drug) plan
• ☐ If choosing Medicare Advantage:
  • ☐ Enroll in Part A and Part B
  • ☐ Choose a Medicare Advantage plan (most include drug coverage)
• ☐ Gather your information:
  • ☐ List of current medications (name, dosage, frequency)
  • ☐ List of current doctors and specialists
  • ☐ Current insurance cards
  • ☐ Social Security number
• ☐ Contact Joel for your free plan comparison — (407) 479-8144
• ☐ Enroll before your IEP ends — Avoid gaps in coverage and late penalties

✅ Already on Medicare? Annual Review Checklist (Before AEP)

• ☐ Review your current plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter
• ☐ Check if your doctors are still in-network (for MA plans)
• ☐ Verify your medications are still on the formulary
• ☐ Compare your current plan’s costs to other available options
• ☐ Call Joel for a free annual plan review — (407) 479-8144

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Glossary of Medicare Terms

Beneficiary — A person who has Medicare coverage.

Coinsurance — The percentage of costs you pay for a covered service after you’ve met your deductible. Example: Medicare pays 80%, you pay 20%.

Copayment (Copay) — A fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered service. Example: $20 for a doctor visit.

Creditable Coverage — Health coverage (such as employer insurance) that is considered at least as good as Medicare’s coverage. Having creditable coverage protects you from late enrollment penalties.

Deductible — The amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance begins to pay. Medicare Part A and Part B each have their own deductible.

Donut Hole (Coverage Gap) — A stage in Part D drug coverage where you previously paid more for prescriptions. Now capped at $2,000/year out-of-pocket thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Dual Eligible — Someone who qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy / LIS) — A Medicare program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for Part D prescription drug costs.

Formulary — A list of prescription drugs covered by a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan. Drugs are organized into tiers, with lower tiers costing less.

Guaranteed Issue Rights — Rights that protect you from being denied Medigap coverage or charged more due to health conditions. Available during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period and in certain other situations.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) — A type of Medicare Advantage plan that generally requires you to use in-network providers and get referrals to see specialists.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) — The 7-month window around your 65th birthday when you can first sign up for Medicare.

Late Enrollment Penalty — An amount added to your monthly premium if you didn’t enroll in Part B or Part D when first eligible and didn’t have creditable coverage. This penalty lasts as long as you have Medicare.

Medicaid — A joint federal and state program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for healthcare. Different from Medicare.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) — An alternative to Original Medicare offered by private companies. Includes Part A and Part B benefits, and usually Part D.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) — Private insurance that helps pay for costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles.

Network — The group of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that have agreed to work with an insurance plan. Using in-network providers typically costs less.

Original Medicare — The traditional Medicare program (Part A + Part B) administered directly by the federal government.

Part A — Hospital insurance. Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.

Part B — Medical insurance. Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment.

Part C — See Medicare Advantage.

Part D — Prescription drug coverage offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) — A type of Medicare Advantage plan that lets you see out-of-network providers at a higher cost. No referrals needed.

Premium — The monthly amount you pay for insurance coverage.

Prior Authorization — Approval required from your plan before receiving certain services or medications. Common in HMO and some PPO plans.

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) — Florida’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-963-5337.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP) — A time outside the regular enrollment periods when you can sign up for or change Medicare coverage due to qualifying life events.

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Helpful Links

• Medicare.gov — www.medicare.gov — Official Medicare website
• 1-800-MEDICARE — 1-800-633-4227 (24/7 help line)
• SHINE Florida — www.floridashine.org — Free Medicare counseling for Floridians
• Social Security Administration — www.ssa.gov — Enroll in Medicare Parts A & B
• Benefits.gov — www.benefits.gov — Check eligibility for assistance programs

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