Thinking about Medicare enrollment? Here’s a checklist to help you prepare.

For many people, turning 65 means it’s time to sign up for Medicare. But experts say you should start preparing for enrollment long before then. About a year or so before your big day.

That’s because Medicare is different from other health insurance you’ve had in the past. There’s a lot to learn. Like the parts of Medicare and what they cover. Or the times you can enroll in Medicare (enrollment windows) and how. Or how to avoid late enrollment penalties. And all the ways you can combine parts of Medicare to get the coverage you need.
 

Keep reading for a month-by-month Medicare checklist that helps take the guesswork out of preparing for your enrollment.

12 months before your 65th birthday: Prepare for Medicare

At this point, you may have a general idea of what your retirement plan will be. And chances are, it will involve Medicare. Now is the time to start educating yourself on the basics of the program.
 

That starts with knowing when you’re able to enroll. Some may believe that you have to wait until your 65th birthday. In fact, you can enroll in Medicare starting at three months before you turn 65. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), and it ends three months after you turn 65. When the time comes, you’ll want to know that you’re choosing the best Medicare plan for you. Adding the start of your IEP to your calendar is a great first start.
 

Once you know when your IEP is, you need to think about your current insurance. Do you get insurance through a group or employee plan? If you’ll still have that plan when you turn 65, you’ll need to know how it’ll work with Medicare. Things like the size of your company can impact when you need to enroll in Medicare. Learn more about when to enroll in Medicare if your health care will still be covered by a job or group after you turn 65.

Then, you should get to know the parts of Medicare and what they cover. You may have heard of Original Medicare, which is simply Medicare Part A (for hospital stays) and Part B (for doctor visits), together. There’s also Medicare Part C (Parts A and B, plus some added benefits). Part C plans are offered by private companies (like Aetna®). You may know these as Medicare Advantage plans. Part D plans help to cover your prescription drugs. And then, there are Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap).
 

9 months before your 65th birthday: Look into Medicare costs

Now that you know the basics, you’ll want to look at how much Medicare will cost you. It’s good to know because your Medicare costs can depend on your income and other things.

First, find out if you’ll have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A or not. If you or your spouse paid taxes for 10 years, you won’t have to pay for Part A. If you enroll in Part B, Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll have a monthly premium to pay.
 

You’ll want to make note of all the other costs that come with each part of Medicare. That starts with your monthly plan premiums (fees) — and you may have more than one. But it also includes your copays or coinsurance and your deductibles. You can learn more about these costs on Medicare.gov.
 

Keep in mind that your income could impact how much you pay for certain parts of Medicare.  If you earn above a certain amount, you’ll pay an extra charge for Medicare Part B and Part D. This is called an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). (In 2025, that meant individuals who earned $106,000 or more, or couples who earned $212,000 or more.) Or, if your income is low, you may be able to get help to pay for Medicare costs.

6 to 9 months before your 65th birthday: Plan ahead for Medicare enrollment

At this point, you should decide when it’ll make sense for you to move from your current health plan to Medicare. If you plan to enroll around your 65th birthday, mark a date on your calendar to sign up.

If you or your spouse has a health plan that will still cover you after you turn 65, it’s good to have a date in mind when that plan will end. Make a plan to sign up for Medicare around that date. This will help you avoid paying late penalties or having a gap in coverage.

4 to 6 months before your 65th birthday: Choose the right Medicare plan for you

Meet with a Medicare agent who can help you fine-tune your choices. They can help you decide whether Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage is right for you. And help you decide if you need a Medicare drug plan or a Medigap plan to help with costs.

During this time, you should also check that the doctors, hospitals and pharmacies you like accept Medicare. Or make sure they’re part of the Medicare Advantage networks you look at.

1 to 3 months before your 65th birthday: Sign up for Medicare

When you enroll

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is underway. This is the seven-month window when you can enroll in Medicare. Your IEP usually starts three months before the month you turn 65. Then it runs through your birthday month and all the way to three months after the month you turn 65.
 

For example, if you turn 65 on June 21, your IEP starts on March 1 and ends on September 30: March 1 – April – May – (June) – July – August – September 30
 

Note: If your birthday is on the first of the month, your IEP starts four months before you turn 65 and ends two months after the month you turn 65.
 

For example, if you turn 65 on June 1, your IEP starts on February 1 and ends on August 31: February 1 – March – April – May – (June) – July – August 31
 

Set a date on your calendar to sign up, and be sure it’s in your seven-month IEP. If you don’t, you could be charged Medicare late enrollment penalties.

When your coverage starts

Once you know when you can enroll, you should learn when your coverage will start. The start date depends on when you enroll in Medicare. If you enroll in the first three months of your IEP, your plan starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. But if you sign up the month you turn 65, then your plan starts one month after you sign up.

What to look for after you enroll

Other plans: Once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you can enroll in other plans. Like a Medicare Advantage plan, a Part D plan or Medigap plan. If you sign up for a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you’ll get a separate ID card from that plan.

Your plan documents: Your Evidence of Coverage (EOC), which tells you what benefits are covered and what your costs will be, will be posted online. You’ll get a link to it by email. You can also ask to have a printed copy mailed to you.
 

Your welcome doctor visit: Now that you’re covered, you’ll want to set up a “Welcome to Medicare” visit with your doctor. You can get this one-time checkup in the first few months of signing up for Medicare. This is at no extra cost to you. It’ll serve as a baseline for the wellness checkups you get each year.