MEDICARE
Turning 65, or looking at your plan again?
Medicare only lets you enroll or switch during certain windows. Here they are in plain English — call us and we will tell you which one applies to you.
Your first window · around your 65th birthday
It opens three months before your birthday month, includes that month, and closes three months after — seven months in total. Enrolling early in that window means your coverage is ready the day you need it, rather than starting weeks late.
Annual Enrollment · October 15 – December 7
Every fall, anyone on Medicare can change their Advantage or drug plan for the coming year. Plans change their costs, networks, and drug lists each January, so this is the time to check that yours still fits. We review it with our clients every year.
Special situations · whenever life changes
Moving, retiring, losing employer coverage, or a plan leaving your area can open a window outside the usual dates. These have deadlines of their own, and missing one can mean waiting until fall. If something has changed, call us sooner rather than later.
Still working at 65?
Then the answer genuinely depends on your employer’s plan — sometimes it makes sense to delay, sometimes it costs you to wait. It is a short conversation and it is worth having before your birthday, not after.
Why timing matters
Signing up late for Part B or drug coverage can add a penalty to your premium that stays with you for as long as you have Medicare. There is also a stretch early on where a Supplement generally cannot turn you down for health reasons — later, that protection can go away. None of it is complicated once someone walks you through it, which is exactly what we do.
Find out which window you’re in
One short call and you will know exactly what to do and by when. Our help is free.
Get Help Choosing CoverageOr call (816) 441-4433 · Monday – Friday, 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM