when speaking about medicare what is iep?
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) refers to the first time an eligible person can enroll in the federal Medicare program. Itâs a period that starts three months before the month of your 65th birthday, continues through your birth month, and lasts for three months after it. Signing up for Medicare during your IEP is one way for you to avoid any late-enrollment penalties. Most people are enrolled automatically ahead of their 65th birthday, but the IEP is the first time people can enroll manually if they have to.