Explore Starting Medicare

Starting Medicare is easier when you know which enrollment period applies, when your current insurance ends, and what information Social Security may need.

Your Medicare effective date depends on when you enroll and which Medicare enrollment period you’re using.

Once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you can no longer contribute to a Health Savings Account without potential tax consequences.

If you’re 65 or older and leave a job with employer health insurance, choosing COBRA doesn’t generally allow you to postpone Medicare Part B enrollment until COBRA ends without consequences.

If you’re retiring after age 65 and delayed Medicare because you had qualifying employer coverage, don’t wait until after your employer insurance ends to begin planning Medicare.

Medicare can charge late enrollment penalties for Part A, Part B and Part D when you don’t enroll when first eligible and don’t qualify for an exception.

Missing your Medicare enrollment deadline can result in delayed coverage, late enrollment penalties, or both.

A Medicare Special Enrollment Period, or SEP, allows certain people to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B outside their Initial Enrollment Period without waiting for the General Enrollment

Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period, or IEP, is generally a 7-month window surrounding your 65th birthday.

If you’re working after 65 and have employer health insurance, Medicare and your employer plan may coordinate coverage differently depending on the type and size of the employer plan.

You don’t necessarily need to enroll in Medicare Part B at 65 if you or your spouse are still actively working and you have qualifying employer group health coverage.

Learn how to apply for Medicare step-by-step. Discover online application methods, eligibility requirements, key enrollment deadlines, and required documents.

Do you automatically get Medicare at 65? Learn who is automatically enrolled, when you need to sign up, and what happens if you are still working.

When should you sign up for Medicare? Learn when to enroll at 65, how the Initial Enrollment Period works, and when Special Enrollment may apply.

Compare Medicare Supplement Plan G vs Plan N in 2026, including premiums, coverage, copays, excess charges, and out-of-pocket costs.

What is Medicare? Learn how Medicare works, who qualifies, and how Parts A, B, C, and D provide different types of health coverage in 2026.