Once you turn 65, you're typically eligible to apply for Medicare Part A (hospitalization) at no charge if you paid into the Medicare program through your taxes for at least 10 years. You're eligible for Part B (medical) if you're a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you have a disability, you may qualify even if you aren't yet 65.

Learn about important dates, such as when to apply for Medicare when you are eligible to switch and when you can drop your Medicare plan.

Apply for Medicare by your 65th birthday

It's your initial enrollment period!

The three months before your birthday, your birthday month and the three months after your 65th birthday are your initial enrollment period.

During this time you can apply for:

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
• Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) and/or
• Prescription drug plan (Part D)

If you're already receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you'll automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on the first day of the month you turn 65. You don't need to do anything. Watch for your red-white-and-blue Medicare card to come in the mail.

If you're not already receiving Social Security or RRB benefits, you can enroll in Parts A and B by visiting ssa.gov or calling 800.772.1213. (TTY 800.325.0778).

It may be best to apply for Medicare during the three months before your birthday to prevent any delays in Part B coverage.

Don't miss your opportunity to apply!

If you don't apply for Part B and Part D during your initial enrollment period, you could end up paying a late enrollment penalty, delaying your coverage and paying higher premiums. However, if you have creditable coverage, you may be able to wait. "Creditable coverage" is coverage that's as good as Original Medicare. Many people have creditable coverage from an employer or union.

Apply for a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan

You'll also have a six-month Medigap (Medicare Supplement) open enrollment period that begins on the first day of the month in which you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this time you can add a Medigap plan to your Original Medicare and/or Part D plan. This is the best time to apply because it's your "guaranteed issue" period and you'll be accepted into a Medigap plan even if you have health problems.

In some other situations you have a guaranteed issue right to purchase a Medigap plan outside of your open enrollment period. For instance, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan and you move out of your plan's service areas.

Signing up or switching plans after your guaranteed issue period has run out may not be easy.

You won't have a guaranteed issue right and will be subject to underwriting, which means that the health plan will consider your health, age and other factors before accepting you into the plan. Coverage may be denied or cost more.

Switch Medicare plans

Switch between Oct. 15 - Dec. 7

If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan, the annual election period (AEP) gives you the chance each year to switch to a different plan or health insurance provider. Your new plan benefits take effect on Jan. 1 of the upcoming year.

Drop or change your Medicare Advantage plan

Change your coverage between Jan. 1 - Mar. 31

Known as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP), these three months are when you can change to a different Medicare Advantage or MAPD plan or disenroll from your plan and return to Original Medicare. Careful! You must already be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or MAPD plan to make changes during this time period, and you are only allowed one plan change.

When you make a change during OEP, your new plan starts on the first day of the next month. 

Use your special election period

In some situations, you'll have a special election period (SEP). The SEP gives you the opportunity to change your Medicare Advantage (Part C) and prescription drug (Part D) plans or go back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) outside of the normal time restraints.

These situations include:

• You move outside the area your current plan covers.
• You become eligible for a low-income subsidy.
• You lose creditable prescription drug coverage from your employer.
• Your plan is no longer available.

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