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Enrollment Periods
Browse 15 in-depth Enrollment Periods guides from Medicare Starter. Our editorial team researches and writes each one to give you clear, practical answers, current as of July 2026. The newest are shown first.
Mark Your Calendar: Medicare Open Enrollment Dates 2026
October 15th. Write it down. That’s when it starts. Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs …
Don't Miss These Critical Medicare Enrollment Deadlines
Most people get their Medicare timing wrong before they even know the rules exist. They assume it works like …
How to Avoid Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalties
Most people assume the Medicare late enrollment penalty is a temporary slap on the wrist. Pay a little extra …
Can You Skip Medicare at 65 If You're Still Working?
You’re turning 65, still working, and your inbox is suddenly full of Medicare mailers that all seem to …
Your Complete Medicare Enrollment Checklist
You’re probably here because something changed. Maybe you just got a letter from Social Security, or a …
When Your Medicare Coverage Officially Begins
You’re probably reading this because a birthday is coming up, or someone in your life recently turned …
What Happens If You Miss Medicare Open Enrollment
Every year, around December 8th, my phone starts ringing off the hook. People who realized, sometimes only …
When to Sign Up for Medicare at 65
Most people miss their Medicare enrollment window not because they’re careless, but because the rules …
Missed Medicare Enrollment? Here's What To Do Now
Most people assume Medicare enrollment is forgiving. Flexible. Sign up whenever, right? That assumption costs …
Don't Miss Medicare's Critical Enrollment Window
Every year, someone calls me in a panic in late November, convinced they’ve already missed their chance …
Your 65th Birthday Medicare Window: Don't Miss Enrollment
Picture this: your 65th birthday is two months away, and a neighbor mentions offhandedly that you were …
When You Can Switch Medicare Plans Outside Open Enrollment
You missed your Medicare signup window and now you’re panicking. Or maybe you just retired at 67, lost …
Avoid Medicare's Late Enrollment Penalty
Most people think the Medicare late enrollment penalty is a one-time fee you pay and forget about. It’s …
When Your Medicare Coverage Changes Every Year
Every October, I get a call that sounds something like this: “Dana, I just got a letter saying my drug …
When Medicare Open Enrollment Starts This Year
You checked the mail and found a thick envelope from your Medicare plan. Inside is a notice that your premiums …