Skip to main content

Turning 65, or already enrolled

Medicare coverage you can count on.

Most people become eligible for Medicare at 65. Here is what each part covers, how Advantage and Supplement plans differ, and the enrollment windows you do not want to miss.

Compare plans available in your area in minutes.

A person checking health information while walking outdoors

Annual Enrollment: October 15 to December 7Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan during that window, with changes effective January 1. Already in an Advantage plan? You get a second window from January 1 to March 31.

Your options

Four ways Medicare coverage is put together.

Almost every Medicare decision comes down to one choice: stay with Original Medicare and add to it, or get your benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan.

01Original Medicare

Part A and Part B

The federal program itself. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. You can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare.

See what to add to Original Medicare
02Part C

Medicare Advantage

A private plan that replaces how you get your Part A and Part B benefits and must cover at least what Original Medicare covers. Most Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage and set an annual limit on your out-of-pocket costs. Plans use provider networks, and which plans exist depends on your county.

Compare Advantage plans near me
03Medigap

Medicare Supplement

Sold alongside Original Medicare to help pay the deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance Medicare leaves to you. Plans are standardized by letter, so the same letter covers the same things from every insurer. Medigap does not include drug coverage, so people who choose it usually add a Part D plan.

Compare Supplement plans near me
04Part D

Prescription drug plans

Drug coverage you add to Original Medicare, either as a stand-alone plan or built into a Medicare Advantage plan. Every plan has its own formulary and pharmacy network, and Part D coverage now includes an annual cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs.

Compare Part D plans near me
Explore supplemental insurance optionsVisit our dedicated Medicare site

Coverage

What does Medicare cover?

Original Medicare, meaning Part A and Part B together, pays for a broad range of hospital and medical care from any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. It does not pay all of it: you are still responsible for deductibles and coinsurance, and Original Medicare has no annual cap on what you spend out of pocket. That gap is the reason Supplement, Advantage, and Part D plans exist.
See Medicare plans in my area
  • Inpatient hospital care, and skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay
  • Hospice care and some home health care
  • Doctor visits, outpatient services, and lab work
  • Preventive care such as annual wellness visits, many screenings, and most vaccines
  • Durable medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, and home oxygen

The gaps

What Original Medicare does not cover.

Knowing what Medicare leaves out is what makes the rest of the decision clear. Some of these gaps are filled by a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles extra benefits, some by a stand-alone Part D or dental plan, and some are best handled with savings or a separate policy.
Dental plansVision plansPharmacy and drug coverage
  • Most routine dental care, including cleanings, fillings, and dentures
  • Routine vision exams and eyeglasses, and routine hearing exams and hearing aids
  • Most prescription drugs you fill at a pharmacy, which is why Part D exists
  • Long-term custodial care, meaning day-to-day help with bathing, dressing, or eating
  • Care outside the United States, apart from a few narrow exceptions

Timing

When to enroll.

Four windows cover nearly every Medicare situation. Which one applies depends on your age, whether you are still working, and what you are enrolled in today.

Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday
7 months
Annual Enrollment Period, effective January 1
Oct 15 to Dec 7
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
Jan 1 to Mar 31
Medigap open enrollment once Part B starts
6 months

Good to know

Common questions about Medicare.

Who is eligible for Medicare?
Most people become eligible at age 65 if they are a United States citizen or a lawfully present resident who has lived here for at least five continuous years. You can also qualify before 65 after receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, or right away with ALS or end-stage renal disease. Whether you pay a premium for Part A depends on how long you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes.
When do I first sign up?
Your Initial Enrollment Period is a seven month window: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. Signing up in the first three months usually means coverage starts the month you turn 65. If you are still working and covered by an employer group health plan, you may be able to delay Part B without a late penalty and use a Special Enrollment Period later, so check the rules for your situation before you skip it.
What is the Annual Enrollment Period?
From October 15 through December 7 each year you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Changes you make take effect January 1. It is worth reviewing every year even if you are happy, because formularies, networks, and costs can change from one year to the next.
Can I change my Medicare Advantage plan after January 1?
Yes. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan you can switch to a different Advantage plan once during that window, or drop back to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan. This window is not available to people who are in Original Medicare on January 1.
Should I choose Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement?
It depends on how you want to trade cost against flexibility. Medicare Advantage often has a lower monthly premium and bundles extra benefits, but you generally stay inside a network and need plan approval for some services. A Supplement plan usually costs more each month but leaves you free to use any provider who accepts Medicare and makes your costs more predictable. Keep in mind that outside your Medigap open enrollment window an insurer may be allowed to use medical underwriting.
What happens if I skip Part B or Part D when I am first eligible?
If you go without Part B or without creditable drug coverage after your Initial Enrollment Period, you can face a late enrollment penalty that is added to your premium for as long as you have that coverage. Creditable coverage from an employer or a spouse generally protects you. If you missed your window entirely, the General Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31.
Browse all insurance FAQs

Ready when you are

See the Medicare plans available in your county.

Enter your ZIP code to compare Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D options where you live.

Plan availability and costs vary by county.