Medicare Part B start date

When do Medicare Part A and Part B start?

Original Medicare includes Part A (80% Hospital Insurance) and Part B (80% Medical Insurance). Your Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B start date is based on when you sign up and your sign-up period. More on this below.

Your first chance to sign up (Initial Enrollment Period)

Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period lasts for seven months, starting three months before your 65th birthday month and ends three months after your 65th birthday month.

If you or a spouse has health insurance through work and will continue to work, you can delay enrolling in Medicare if you prefer your group health plan over Medicare, with no penalties.

Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B start date

Your coverage starts depending on which month you sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. Coverage always begins on the first of the month.

If you qualify for premium-free Part A (and most people do): Your Part A coverage starts the month you turn 65. (If your birthday falls on the first of the month, your coverage starts the month before you turn 65.)

Medicare Part B start date: Coverage starts based on the month you sign up:

Signing up for Premium-free Medicare Part A later

Your Part A coverage starts six months back from when you sign up or apply for Social Security benefits (or the Railroad Retirement Board). Coverage can’t start earlier than the month you turn 65. You can sign up for Part A any time after you turn 65.

After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you can only sign up for Part B during one of the other enrollment periods.

Your Medicare Part B start date depends on what type of enrollment period you sign up in and when during the enrollment period you apply.

Between January 1-March 31 each year (General Enrollment Period)

You can sign up between January 1-March 31 each year. This period is called the General Enrollment Period. Your coverage starts July 1. You might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty if you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Special Situations (Special Enrollment Period)

A Special Enrollment Period is only available for a limited time. If you don’t sign up during your Special Enrollment Period, you’ll have to wait for the next General Enrollment Period, and you might have to pay a monthly late enrollment penalty. There are certain situations when you can sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period without paying a late enrollment penalty.

When coverage starts

Generally, coverage starts the month after you sign up.

Special situations include:

You have health insurance through a job and still working — You can sign up for Part A and Part B any time as long as:

• You have group health plan coverage.
• You or your spouse (or a family member if you’re disabled) is currently working (not retiree) for the employer that provides your health coverage.

You also have eight months to sign up after you or your spouse (or your family member if you’re disabled) stop working or lose group health plan coverage (whichever happens first).

Your 8-month Special Enrollment Period starts when you stop working, even if you choose COBRA or other coverage that’s not Medicare.

If I can help address any questions on your Medicare Part B start date, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

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