Transitioning to Medicare at 65

Turning 65: Your Medicare Transition

Your initial enrollment period

Medicare's initial window spans seven months: the three months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the three months after. Enrolling early in that window prevents coverage gaps and late penalties that can last for life.

The choices inside Medicare

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B) plus a Part D drug plan, often paired with a Medigap supplement to cap out-of-pocket costs
• Medicare Advantage (Part C), which bundles everything through a private carrier, often with dental and vision extras, in exchange for a network

Still working at 65?

If you have employer coverage from active employment, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty. The rules depend on employer size, and getting this wrong is expensive. This is exactly the kind of decision to talk through before your birthday, not after.