{"id":53635,"date":"2022-09-21T10:23:23","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T14:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=53635"},"modified":"2026-01-15T15:55:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:55:10","slug":"when-does-medicare-coverage-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/when-does-medicare-coverage-start\/","title":{"rendered":"When does Medicare coverage start?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program that provides coverage for seniors and people with certain disabilities. The program helps to pay for hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs. In many cases, Medicare coverage starts when the beneficiary turns 65 years old. However, there are some exceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many factors that can affect your Medicare enrollment and coverage start dates. This includes when you first become Medicare-eligible and the enrollment period you use at the time of enrollment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Medicare start dates by enrollment period<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Enrollment period<\/b><\/td>\nWhen to sign up<\/b><\/td>\nEffective date<\/b><\/td>\nConsiderations<\/b><\/td>\nLearn more<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Initial Enrollment Period for people who turn 65 years old<\/span><\/td>\nStarts 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after you turn 65.<\/span><\/td>\nMedicare coverage always starts on the 1st of the month after the month enrolled. <\/span>See details here.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nIf you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty. Penalties also may apply if you must pay a Part A premium.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not everyone needs to enroll in Medicare at 65, i.e., people who are still working.<\/span><\/td>\n

Learn more<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Initial Enrollment Period for younger people with a qualifying disability, ALS, or ESRD<\/span><\/td>\nIf you\u2019re on SSD, you are automatically enrolled in month 25 of receiving SSD.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have ALS and SSD, you get enrolled in month 1 of receiving benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have ESRD, it varies by situation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

General Enrollment Period<\/span><\/td>\nJan. 1 to Mar. 31<\/span><\/td>\nFirst day of the following month in which you enrolled<\/span><\/td>\nYou might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty if you don\u2019t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.<\/span><\/td>\nLearn more<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Annual or Open Enrollment Period<\/span><\/td>\nOct. 15 and Dec. 7.<\/span><\/td>\nJan. 1<\/span><\/td>\nThis is the best time to make changes to existing Medicare health and drug coverage.<\/span><\/td>\nLearn more<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Supplement Open Enrollment Period<\/span><\/td>\nStarts the first of the month you turn 65 and enrolled in Part B and lasts 6 months.<\/span><\/td>\nCoverage becomes effective the first of the following month after you enroll.<\/span><\/td>\nDuring this time, you\u2019ll have guaranteed issue rights, meaning a carrier cannot deny you coverage or charge you a higher premium due to a pre-existing condition.<\/span><\/td>\nLearn more<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period<\/span><\/td>\nJan. 1 to Mar. 31<\/span><\/td>\nNew coverage begins the 1st of the month after your new plan gets your request for coverage.<\/span><\/td>\nThe Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period isn\u2019t for people who already have Original Medicare.<\/span><\/td>\nLearn more<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Special Enrollment Period<\/span><\/td>\nVaries by qualifying event.<\/span><\/td>\nTypically, coverage starts the month after you sign up.<\/span><\/td>\nFind a list of special circumstances here.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nLearn more<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Initial Enrollment Period<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a person\u2019s first chance to sign up for Medicare. Each person’s Medicare Initial Enrollment Period is specific to them. Your Initial Enrollment Period will begin three months before the month of your 65th birthday and end three months after your 65th birthday month. Generally, your coverage will begin the first day of the month before you turn 65.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if your birthday is in January, then your Initial Enrollment Period will begin on the first of October and end on the last day of April. If you enroll in Medicare during October or November, your coverage starts the first day of December.<\/span><\/p>\n

When does Medicare coverage start for ESRD?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Eligibility for Medicare is linked to your End-Stage Renal Disease diagnosis. This means that if you have been diagnosed with ESRD, there is no waiting period to enroll once your physician prescribes a regular course of dialysis or a kidney transplant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the time, Medicare coverage for someone who’s been diagnosed with ESRD will begin on the first day of the third month following the month when they start their regular dialysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please note that Medicare sometimes waives the three-month waiting period if someone:<\/span><\/p>\n