Medicare: Original Fee-For-Service

The effective date of Original Medicare depends on whether you enroll during the period when you can first sign up (the Initial Enrollment Period), or during a general or special enrollment period.

Initial Enrollment Period

To be effective on the date of eligibility you must apply before your first month of eligibility.

If you apply before the month that you turn 65, coverage will be effective on the first of the month that you turn 65. [If you were born on the 1st of the month, Social Security will consider you turn 65 on the last day of the prior month. If you were born on May 1, Social Security will consider that you turned 65 in the April before your 65th birthday.]

If you apply during the month that you turn 65, coverage is effective on the first of the following month. [In the example above, if you enrolled in April, your coverage would begin May 1.]

If you apply after you turn 65:

• If you apply in the month after you turn 65, coverage is effective on the first of the third month after you turn 65. [If you enrolled in May, your coverage would begin July 1, the third month from April.]

• If you apply in the second month after you turn 65: coverage starts the fifth month after your birthday.
• If you apply in the third month after you turn 65: coverage starts in the sixth month after your birthday

If you're already receiving Social Security benefits, you will be sent a notice and automatically enrolled unless you dis-enroll. If you're not already receiving benefits, you must file an application. 

General enrollment period

If you enroll during the period January 1 to March 31, coverage will be effective  July 1 of that year.

Special enrollment period

• If you enroll during a special enrollment period because you were previously covered by an employer or union group health plan, or because you did not take Part B before, coverage begins the first of the month after you enroll.
• If group coverage ends before the end of a month, and you enroll during that month, coverage will be effective on the first of that month (to avoid a gap in coverage).

NOTE: To learn more about eligibility for Medicare, see: Original Fee-For-Service Medicare: Eligibility.  For information on enrolling, see: Original Fee-For-Service : How To Enroll. 

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