Medicare
Enrollment & Eligibility

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Turning Age 65

This is the time when you first become eligible for Medicare. For those turning age 65, this period begins 3 months before your birthday month and extends to 3 months after your birthday month, in total a 7-month period.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Social Security Disability

If you are under age 65 and have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits for 24 consecutive months, you are eligible for an initial enrollment period. For those receiving Social Security Disability this period begins 3 months before your 24th month and extends to 3 months after your 24th month, in total a 7-month period.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

Most Medicare beneficiaries are familiar with this enrollment period. The Annual Enrollment Period is a period of time when existing Medicare members can make changes to their plans. This year AEP is from October 15th to December 7th, and any changes will become effective January 1st.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

It is also possible to make changes to your plan when certain events happen in your life. These opportunities are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). For example, if you move to a new home outside of your plan's service area, you have 2 months to select a new plan. Call Palmetto Health Pro for information about specific qualifications.

Loss of "Creditable"
Employer/Group Coverage

If you are continuing to work, and have decided to delay Medicare, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B as soon as you lose “creditable coverage.” You have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period that begins 63 days before your coverage ends, and extends to 6 months after the day you lose coverage.

General Enrollment Period

This is an annual enrollment period for people who did not enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B when they first became eligible. The General Enrollment Period is from January 1st to March 31st. REMEMBER, YOU MUST HAVE BOTH MEDICARE PART A & B TO CHOOSE A MEDICARE PLAN.

Late Enrollment Penalty:

If you do not enroll in Medicare Part B when you are eligible, or when you lose "creditable coverage", your Part B premium can increase 10% for every 12 months that you are eligible for Part B and did not have "creditable coverage". This late enrollment penalty lasts as long as you are enrolled in Medicare Part B.

Part D Penalty:

If you do not enroll in Medicare Part D when you are eligible, or when you lose "creditable coverage", Medicare calculates a Part D penalty by multiplying 1% of the average national Part D premium ($35.63 in 2017) by the number of months you did not have Part D or "creditable coverage". The Part D penalty lasts as long as your enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan.