Turning 65 in Oklahoma: your Medicare timeline.
Insights from David Harder, President · Published
Quick answer: your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after. Sign up before your birthday month and coverage starts the first day of that month.
When can I first sign up for Medicare?
During your Initial Enrollment Period: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. If you sign up in the 3 months before, your coverage starts the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up later in the window, coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
Am I enrolled automatically?
If you already get Social Security retirement benefits, you are usually enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically and your card arrives in the mail about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If you are not getting Social Security yet, you need to sign up through Social Security.
What if I am still working at 65?
If you have health coverage from your own or your spouse's current job, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. When that coverage or employment ends, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up. Rules depend on employer size, so check before you skip Part B.
What happens if I miss my window?
The Part B late enrollment penalty adds 10% to your premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but did not, and it generally lasts as long as you have Part B. Part D has its own penalty if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
After you have Part A and Part B, you choose between Original Medicare with an optional Medigap policy and a stand-alone Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Your Medigap open enrollment period lasts 6 months, starting the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window you can buy any Medigap policy sold in Oklahoma without medical underwriting.
What should I gather before I sign up?
Your Medicare or Social Security information, a list of your prescriptions and pharmacies, your doctors and hospitals, and details on any current employer or retiree coverage. Those four things drive which plans make sense for you.
How Spirit Insurance Group helps
Our licensed, salaried, non-commissioned team in Tulsa walks you through your timeline, then compares the plans we represent against your doctors, prescriptions and budget. We come to you.
Educational information, not a recommendation for a particular plan. Costs and coverage vary by plan; see each plan's Evidence of Coverage. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 60 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
