Medicare has several enrollment windows, and using the right one matters — miss your first window and penalties can follow you for life. Here are the ones to know.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Your first window: a 7-month span around your 65th birthday — the three months before your birthday month, the month itself, and the three months after. Enrolling in the three months before usually means coverage starts with no gap. Estimate yours with our enrollment-window tool.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
October 15 – December 7 every year. This is when anyone on Medicare can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Advantage or Part D plans, and more — with changes effective January 1. It’s the best time for a free annual review, which we’re glad to do.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
January 1 – March 31. If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)
Life events — losing employer coverage, moving, and others — can open a Special Enrollment Period that lets you make changes outside the usual windows. Moving to or from Grand County is one common trigger.
Don’t guess — confirm
We’ll tell you exactly which window applies to your situation, free. Book a free review or call (435) 260-3200.
Moab Medicare is a licensed independent insurance agency, not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.