It’s important to understand when you can enroll in Medicare, so you’ll have the coverage you need as soon as you are eligible.
If you’re reviewing this section and have not requested your free Medicare Timeline, please do so now. As you reach certain milestones on the road to age 65 and Medicare, you’ll get personalized emails with specific advice that can help make your path to enrollment clear and easy.
You can enroll for the first time in Medicare Part A and/or B only at certain times without the risk of late enrollment penalties. The first opportunity is your Initial Enrollment Period.
This is a 7-month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and runs for 3 months after the month you turned 65. The table below can help make finding your IEP easy.
65th Birthday Month |
Your Initial Enrollment Period Begins |
Your Initial Enrollment Period Ends |
---|---|---|
January | October 1 | April 30 |
February | November 1 | May 31 |
March | December 1 | June 30 |
April | January 1 | July 31 |
May | February 1 | August 31 |
June | March 1 | September 30 |
July | April 1 | October 31 |
August | May 1 | November 30 |
September | June 1 | December 31 |
October | July 1 | January 31 |
November | August 1 | February 28 (29 in a leap year) |
December | September 1 | March 31 |
If you are new to Medicare, then your IEP for these options is exactly the same as your IEP for Medicare Part A and/or B.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, offers a range of Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. You can enroll in these plans once you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or B.
For information, call us at 1-800-000-0000 (TTY 711).
If you do not enroll during your IEP, special circumstances may allow you to sign up for Part A and/or B during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
You may enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan at any time after you enroll in Medicare Part B. You are guaranteed acceptance as long as you also have Part A if you enroll during the six-month Open Enrollment Period following your Part B enrollment. After that, your application will have to go through underwriting and you may be denied coverage.
Unsure about when you should enroll in a plan? Call Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas at 1-800-000-0000 (TTY 711). A Medicare advisor can guide you through every step of the process.
You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or B, if:
If you do not fit one of the examples above, you must sign up for Medicare yourself. You have three options to enroll:
For more details on when to enroll, check out this Fact Sheet from Medicare.
Answer a few simple questions and we’ll provide you with a personalized timeline. You’ll also receive reminders with important information and actions you can take to stay on track as you near your Medicare eligibility.
Create My Timeline →As our valued member, you have access to exclusive resources and assistance. We’re here to help you make a smooth transition to Medicare. Call us to learn more.
1-800-000-0000 (TTY 711)We’re open between 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., local time, 7 days a week. If you’re calling from April 1 through September 30, alternate technologies (for example, voicemail) will be used on the weekends and holidays.