Educational estimate. Not insurance advice — confirm with plan documents.
For the Initial Enrollment Period we build the 7-month window around your 65th birthday month. The Annual Election Period and Advantage Open Enrollment are fixed federal dates.
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Medicare’s enrollment windows are strict, and missing them can mean lifelong late penalties or a year-long wait. Your Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window around your 65th birthday — the three months before, your birthday month, and the three months after. After that, the Annual Election Period (October 15–December 7) is when most people switch plans for the following year.
If you’re already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31) to make one change. Special circumstances — moving, losing coverage — can open additional Special Enrollment Periods. Confirm your exact dates at Medicare.gov.
The 7 months around your 65th birthday: 3 before, your birthday month, and 3 after.
The Annual Election Period, October 15–December 7, when you can change Advantage/Part D plans.
January 1–March 31, when Advantage enrollees can make one change.
No — confirm your exact dates at Medicare.gov.