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Assuming that you have paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years), you will pay no premium for Medicare Part A which covers hospital costs. And if you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Part A, even if your private health insurance coverage continues. (Both will apply to any hospital bills you incur.)

To get Medicare Part B benefits which covers physicians’ fees and a range of miscellaneous costs, you must sign up during the open enrollment period. There is a premium charged for Part B. If you are receiving Social Security benefits, the premium will be deducted from your monthly Social Security payment. And that’s where watching the calendar comes in.

If you are retired, ready to retire, or want to replace private coverage with Medicare, your window for enrollment opens three months prior to the month of your 65th birthday and closes three months after. And there are consequences for missing that seven-month period:

• You will have to wait for the annual Medicare open enrollment period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year) to sign up
• Your Medicare Part B premium will increase by 10 percent for every 12-month period you delay. This is NOT a one-time penalty; it applies EVERY month as long as your Part B coverage continues. Over time, it could easily add up to hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.

If you are continuing to practice and keep the insurance that is part of your benefit package, or if you are covered by a spouse or partner’s private insurance, you can wait to enroll until your private coverage ends, but then you must enroll in Medicare Part B within eight months of the end of that coverage to avoid the penalties described above. There are exceptions; an insurance counselor can help you decide if they apply in your case.

You should plan to complete your Medicare enrollment at least a month before discontinuing your private health coverage.

Even with Medicare Parts A and B, you, as a patient, will still be responsible for a significant portion of hospital and doctors’ costs.  But there are privately insured options that help make up the difference, and they are only available if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. If you are enrolled In Part B, you are also eligible to enroll in Part C, also called Medicare Advantage; or a Medicare Supplement insurance Plan, also called Medigap; and in Part D, for prescription drug coverage.

Many physicians find Medicare Supplement insurance plans satisfy their needs and preferences more effectively than the managed-care Medicare Advantage plans. Certainly, Medicare Supplement insurance plans offer greater flexibility when choosing a health care provider— they are accepted by every provider who accepts Medicare and there are no geographic limits.

You can choose from Medicare Supplement Insurance plan options offered by private insurers with varying levels of coverage and premiums. Keep in mind that you will continue to pay the Medicare Part B premium, as well as the premium for your Medicare Supplement insurance plan. While these plans can cover most costs, no Medicare Supplement insurance plans offered to people who became Medicare eligible after 2020 cover Part B deductibles.

If you elect to enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, the best time to sign up is during the six-month open enrollment period that begins in the month when you are 65 and have enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During your six-month period, you are guaranteed acceptance by the insurer at the rate that applies in your state, regardless of your health. If you miss the six-month period, you may be subject to underwriting and charged a higher rate based on your health. It is possible that you might be denied coverage altogether. You also have to wait for an open enrollment period and miss months of coverage. (If you have employer health insurance you may qualify for an exception to this rule.)