You have a specific timeframe that is referred to as your Initial Enrollment Period or IEP. This timeframe is centered around when you turn 65, so the exact months are different for everyone. You have a 7-month window with which to work. Here’s the breakdown of your eligibility time:
The first day you’re eligible is 3 months before you turn 65.
You also have the entire month of your birthdate to enroll.
Your IEP ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.
If for some reason, you miss signing up during your Initial Enrollment Period, there is the General Enrollment Period. The Medicare enrollment period of 2021 is between January 1 – March 31, and it is that time every year.
Additionally, special circumstances allow you to transition to an enrollment period that doesn’t incur penalties or fees. This is called the Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The main reason you would qualify for this special circumstance enrollment is that you were already covered by insurance through your or your spouse’s work. The timeframe for SEP is the month after you are no longer employed or receiving medical insurance, and it extends for 8 months.
If you were serving in a foreign country as a volunteer, you may also be eligible for the Special Enrollment Period (SEP). However, COBRA and retiree health plans are not eligible for the SEP.