Medicare Guide

Find Medicare enrollment help near you: start here

Medicare enrollment is how you sign up for Part A and Part B, usually through Social Security, and then choose coverage for what those parts don't pay. Your first chance is a 7-month window around your 65th birthday (Medicare.gov). After that, you can change Medicare Advantage or drug plans each year from October 15 to December 7 (Medicare.gov).

Reviewed by John Schenk, Licensed Insurance Agent since 2008 · Published November 4, 2026 · Last updated November 4, 2026

Quick answer

Medicare starts with Parts A and B. Your real decision is how you want the rest of your coverage to work.

Most people compare Original Medicare with add-ons against Medicare Advantage. The right path depends on local plan availability, doctors, prescriptions, budget, travel, and timing.

Key takeaways

You sign up for Part A and Part B through Social Security (SSA.gov).
If you get Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you're usually enrolled in Parts A and B automatically (Medicare.gov).
Signing up late for Part B can mean a penalty you pay for as long as you have Part B, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (Medicare.gov).
The bigger decision comes next. You choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Supplement and Part D, and you check each option against your doctors and prescriptions.
Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months. It covers the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month and the 3 months after (Medicare.gov).
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year (Medicare.gov).
The Part B late enrollment penalty adds 10% to your premium for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't (Medicare.gov).
Medigap open enrollment is a 6-month period that starts the month you're 65 or older and have Part B (Medicare.gov).

What this means in plain English

Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older and for some younger people with disabilities or End-Stage Renal Disease (Medicare.gov). Enrolling takes two steps. First, you get Original Medicare. Part A covers hospital care and Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Then you decide how to cover the costs Original Medicare leaves, such as most prescriptions. If you also have Medicaid, VA or FEHB coverage, those benefits change which choices make sense for you.

Two examples to help you plan

For example, if your 65th birthday is July 15, your Initial Enrollment Period runs from April 1 through October 31 (Medicare.gov). Signing up in April, May or June lets your coverage start July 1. Here's how two paths compare. Medicare Advantage bundles your Part A and Part B coverage into one private plan, and most plans include drug coverage (Medicare.gov). With Original Medicare, you add a Medigap policy for costs like coinsurance and deductibles, plus a separate Part D plan (Medicare.gov).

Why choose Medicare enrollment help

You can enroll on your own through Social Security and Medicare.gov. The tradeoff is time. Plan networks, drug lists and costs differ by county and by carrier, so you'd have to check each plan yourself. The Medicare Store is an independent licensed agency. A local agent compares plans from several carriers, confirms your doctors and prescriptions, and handles the enrollment at no cost to you. You can get help in English or Spanish.

How Medicare enrollment works

Start about 3 months before the month you turn 65. Sign up for Parts A and B unless Social Security enrolls you automatically. Then meet an agent by phone, by text, by house call on request, or in the Las Vegas, Reno, Phoenix, Albuquerque, McAllen or Laredo office. The agent compares Medicare Advantage with Medigap plus Part D. Plan availability varies by location. After you enroll, your agent checks in six times the first year, then twice a year. Your plan gets a fresh review every Open Enrollment.

Get started today

Before your meeting, write down your doctors and your prescriptions with their doses. Have your Medicare card or Social Security details ready, along with any employer, VA, Medicaid or FEHB coverage. Open Enrollment runs through December 7 (Medicare.gov). If you already have Medicare, this is your window to compare plans for next year.

What to do next

You now know when your enrollment window opens and what happens if you miss Part B. You also know the choice you'll make after you have Parts A and B. This page is general information. A licensed agent can confirm which rules apply to you. Today, write down your doctors and prescriptions. Then call or text 888-333-5853, or schedule a free meeting at themedicarestore.com. Phone help is available nationwide.

Common questions

Questions people usually ask next

These answers are a starting point. Medicare details can change based on timing, other coverage, and where you live.

What are the penalties for late enrollment in Medicare Part B?

Your Part B premium goes up 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't sign up (Medicare.gov). You usually pay it for as long as you have Part B. A Special Enrollment Period can let you avoid it.

What are the different parts of Medicare?

Part A covers inpatient hospital care and Part B covers doctor and outpatient care (Medicare.gov). Part C is Medicare Advantage, which is another way to get your Part A and Part B coverage through a Medicare-approved private company. Part D covers prescription drugs.

Do people with Medicare have to enroll every year?

No. You don't sign up for Medicare again each year. But plan costs and drug lists can change every year, so it's smart to compare during Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7 (Medicare.gov).

What are Medigap plans?

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is a private policy that helps pay costs Original Medicare doesn't, like coinsurance and deductibles (Medicare.gov). It works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage. For drug coverage, you'd add a separate Part D plan.

Is help from The Medicare Store free?

Yes. A licensed agent compares plans and handles your enrollment at no cost to you. You can meet by phone, by text, in an office or at your home on request.

Official references

Sources checked for this guide

These guides are written in plain English, but the 2026 cost figures and coverage rules should stay tied to official Medicare and CMS source material.

Medicare.gov Medicare.gov SSA.gov Medicare.gov Medicare.gov Medicare.gov Medicare.gov Medicare.gov Medicare.gov themedicarestore.com

About the reviewer

John Schenk · Licensed Insurance Agent since 2008 · Nevada license #603197

John Schenk is a trainer and Agent Relationship Manager for The Medicare Store. He has been a licensed insurance agent since 2008 (Nevada license #603197). He trains and supports agents who sit with Medicare Store clients every day.

Need help applying this?

Talk with The Medicare Store before you choose.

Medicare decisions depend on your doctors, prescriptions, location, timing, and budget. We can help you compare the options that fit your situation.

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