Dates worth marking on the calendar.
Medicare runs on a schedule. Miss a window and you may wait a year — or carry a penalty for life. Here is the whole year at a glance, and what each window actually lets you do.
Your Initial Enrollment Period and Medigap open enrollment are keyed to your own birthday, not the calendar year — see below.
- IEP
Initial Enrollment Period
7 months around your 65th birthday
- Starts 3 months before your birthday month and ends 3 months after. This is when most people first sign up. Missing it without other creditable coverage can mean a lifelong Part B penalty.
- AEP
Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 – December 7
- Every year. Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Advantage plans, or join, drop, or switch a Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
- OEP
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
January 1 – March 31
- Only if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan. You get one change: switch to a different Advantage plan, or drop back to Original Medicare.
- Medigap OEP
Medigap Open Enrollment
6 months, once
- Begins when you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this one-time window a Supplement is guaranteed issue — no medical underwriting, regardless of health history.
- SEP
Special Enrollment Periods
Triggered by life events
- Losing employer coverage, moving out of your plan's service area, qualifying for Medicaid, or a plan leaving your county can each open a window outside the usual dates.
Oregon gives Medigap policyholders a second chance every year: the Birthday Rule, a window around your birthday to switch Supplement plans without medical underwriting.
How the Birthday Rule worksWe'll remind you before every deadline.
Every client gets a friendly reminder ahead of each enrollment period, because your needs change from year to year.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent [NUMBER] organizations which offer [NUMBER] products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.