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Medicare Turning 65

Turning 65 within the next year

Your first Medicare window is when the big choices get made. Get your doctors and prescriptions in front of you, and decide with the facts.

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Three questions

How can we help you?

Step 1: which coverage are you thinking about?

Nothing here signs you up for anything. You choose what happens next.

Turning 65

Your first enrollment window

Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months. It starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after it.

Medicare coverage always starts on the first day of a month. Signing up in the months before your birthday month helps avoid a gap.

If you or your spouse still have health coverage from a current job, you may be able to wait without a penalty. Check the details before you decide.

Signing up late can mean a late enrollment penalty that may last as long as you have that coverage.

Your Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment Period starts once you are 65 and have Part B. It lasts six months.

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When to enroll

The enrollment year

The enrollment year A twelve-month bar chart of enrollment windows. Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Covered California Open Enrollment runs November 1 to January 31. The two overlap from November 1 to December 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 to March 31. both open, Nov 1 to Dec 7 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Medicare AEP Oct 15 – Dec 7 Covered California Nov 1 – Jan 31 Medicare Advantage OEP Jan 1 – Mar 31 The enrollment year Sources: medicare.gov and Covered California Most Covered California special enrollment periods last 60 days from the life event. 63 days in a row without creditable drug coverage can mean a Part D penalty. The enrollment year A twelve-month chart of enrollment windows. Medicare Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Covered California Open Enrollment runs November 1 to January 31. The two overlap from November 1 to December 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 to March 31. Shaded: both open, Nov 1 to Dec 7 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Medicare AEP Oct 15 – Dec 7 Covered California Nov 1 – Jan 31 Medicare Advantage OEP Jan 1 – Mar 31 The enrollment year Sources: medicare.gov and Covered California Most Covered California special enrollment periods last 60 days. 63 days without creditable drug coverage can mean a Part D penalty.
Sources: medicare.gov enrollment periods and Covered California dates, checked September 2026.

Coverage Pedro can help with

Health under 65MedicareTurning 65Medicare AdvantagePart DMedicare SupplementDental & VisionLife insuranceExtra coverageMedicare guides

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Questions

Questions people ask

Three months before the month you turn 65. It stays open for seven months in total.

Not always. If you have health coverage from your own or your spouse’s current job, you may be able to sign up later without a penalty. Check with the employer’s benefits team before you decide.

Next step

Ready when you are

Answer three questions, or talk through your first Medicare choices with Pedro.

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