Turning 65 in Utah: Your Medicare Enrollment Guide

Your Initial Enrollment Period

Most people get a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday: it begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after. Signing up early in that window generally means your coverage can start sooner. Exact start dates depend on when you sign up and on your birthday, and we will confirm yours.

Missing the window without other qualifying coverage can lead to late enrollment penalties, covered below.

The parts of Medicare in plain English

• Part A (hospital insurance): hospital stays and some skilled nursing and home health care. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A.
• Part B (medical insurance): doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services. Part B has a monthly premium.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage): an alternative way to get your Medicare benefits through a private plan. Read the guide.
• Part D (prescription drugs): private drug plans. Read the guide.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap): a private policy that works with Original Medicare. Read the guide.

A simple timeline

1. Three to four months before you turn 65: gather your information and decide whether you will keep working and keep employer coverage.
2. Sign up for Part A and Part B through Social Security. If you already receive Social Security benefits, you are generally enrolled automatically, but confirm that.
3. Choose your path: Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement and a Part D plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan.
4. Check the timing of Medigap: your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.
5. Review every fall during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, because plans change.

If you are still working at 65

You may be able to delay Part B if you have coverage through your or your spouse’s current employer, but the rules depend on your situation, including the size of your employer. In some cases Medicare is the primary payer and in others your employer plan is. Ask your employer’s benefits office, and do not assume. If you contribute to a Health Savings Account, talk to a tax professional before enrolling in Medicare, since contributions generally have to stop.

When your employer coverage ends, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, which has its own deadline. We can help you map it out before the date arrives.

Late enrollment penalties

• Part B: if you do not sign up when first eligible and do not have qualifying employer coverage, your premium may be permanently higher. The penalty is based on how long you went without Part B.
• Part D: if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage after you first become eligible, you may owe a penalty added to your Part D premium for as long as you have coverage.

If you have an ACA Marketplace plan now

Marketplace premium subsidies generally end once you are eligible for premium-free Part A, and you may not keep them after you turn 65. Talk to us before your 65th birthday so you can time your Medicare coverage and avoid a gap or overlap.

Where to get help with costs

Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help for drug costs, and Medicaid may help people with limited income and resources. Your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling, and we can point you toward the right office.