Skip to main content
AARP Medicare Plans from UnitedHealthcare AARP Medicare Plans from UnitedHealthcare United HealthCare United HealthCare
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, or UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, or United Healthcare Insurance Company of New York.
(UnitedHealthcare)
  • Saved Icon Saved
  • For Plan Members Icon For Plan Members
  • Menu Icon Menu
  • Phone Icon
    TFN Modal Close

    Questions? We're ready to help.

    Call UnitedHealthcare at:
    FED TFN (TTY 711) (toll free)

    8 a.m. - 8 p.m., 7 days a week.

    Already a member? Call the number on the back of your member ID card.

    MO10050ST

    Call UnitedHealthcare at:
    MEDSUPP TFN
     (TTY 711) (toll free)

    7 a.m. - 11 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday
    9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, Saturday.

    Already a member? Call the number on the back of your member ID card.

    MO10050ST

  • UnitedHealthcare uhc.com

    UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Marketplace (ACA) plans

    Individual & family plans - short term, dental & more

    Medicaid plans

    Small business plans

  • Are you a Medicare Plan Member?
    Go to Member Site to Sign In or Register for an account

    Are you a Medicare Plan Member?
    Go to Member Site to Sign In or Register for an account

    Plan through your employer?
    Sign in to myuhc.com

    Sign in to myuhc.com

Please enter a search term
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or an affiliate (UnitedHealthcare)
  • Medicare
  • Home
  • Shop

    Get help making the right decision when shopping for coverage.

    Enroll

    Ready to enroll? Need to brush up on enrollment basics? See more here.

    Member Resources

    Get plan information, forms and documents you may need now or in the future.

    Plan Types

    Medicare Advantage Plans

    Dual Special Needs Plans

    [[state-start:AL,AS,AK,AZ,AR,CA,CO,CT,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,ID,IL,IN,IA,KS,KY,LA,ME,MD,MA,MI,MN,MS,MO,MT,NE,MP,NV,NH,NJ,NM,NY,NC,ND,OH,OK,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN,TX,UT,VT,VI,VA,WA,DC,WV,WI,WY,null]]Medicare Supplement Plans [[state-end]]

    [[state-start:OR]]Medicare Supplement Plans [[state-end]]

    Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

    All United Healthcare Insurance Plans

    Tools to help you choose a plan

    Get a Plan Recommendation

    Estimate Drug Costs

    Search for a Pharmacy

    Search Doctors

    Search Dentists

    Find plans in your area
    Error: Please enter a valid ZIP Code

    Request More Help and Information

  • Introduction to Medicare

    Introduction

    Eligibility

    Coverage Options

    Prescriptions, Providers & Benefits

    Medicare Cost Basics

    More about Medicare

    Articles and Special Topics

    Types of Plans

    Overview of Plans

    Medicare Advantage Plans

    Medicare Supplement Insurance

    Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

    Special Needs Plans

    FAQ

    Medicare FAQ

    Glossary

    Medicare Enrollment

    When to Enroll

    How to Enroll

    Changing Plans

    Working Past 65

    Get Your Free Medicare Guide

    Learn more about how Medicare works,
    coverage options and when to enroll.

    Thank You!

    Your guide will arrive in your inbox shortly.

    Error: Please enter a valid email address.
  • Saved

    My Saved Items
    Welcome

    This plan has been saved to your profile.

    A plan has been removed from your profile.

    No plans or drugs have been saved.


    Sign In to see your saved items
    Sign Out
You are in Agent mode
Please enter a search term.
For Plan Members

Are you a Medicare Plan Member?
Go to Member Site to Sign In or Register for an account

Plan through your employer?
Sign in to myuhc.com

Sign in to myuhc.com

Main Menu
  • Home
  • Medicare

Are you a Plan Member?

Go to the Member Site to Sign In or Register for an account.

Go to the Member Site external icon
Go to the Member Site external icon
Shop For a Plan

Shop

Get help making the right decision when shopping for coverage.

Enroll

Ready to enroll? Need to brush up on enrollment basics? See more here.

Member Resources

Get plan information, forms and documents you may need now or in the future.

Find plans in your area
Please enter a valid zip code.

Request More Help and Information

Shop For a Plan
Plan Types

Medicare Advantage Plans

Dual Special Needs Plans

[[state-start:AL,AS,AK,AZ,AR,CA,CO,CT,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,ID,IL,IN,IA,KS,KY,LA,ME,MD,MA,MI,MN,MS,MO,MT,NE,MP,NV,NH,NJ,NM,NY,NC,ND,OH,OK,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN,TX,UT,VT,VI,VA,WA,DC,WV,WI,WY,null]]Medicare Supplement Plans [[state-end]]

[[state-start:OR]]Medicare Supplement Plans [[state-end]]

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

All United Healthcare Insurance Plans

Shop For a Plan
Tools to help you choose a plan

Get a Plan Recommendation

Estimate Drug Costs

Search for a Pharmacy

Search Doctors

Search Dentists

Learn About Medicare

Get Your Free Medicare Guide

Learn more about how Medicare works,
coverage options and when to enroll.

Thank You!

Your guide will arrive in your inbox shortly.

Please enter a valid email address.
Learn About Medicare
Introduction to Medicare

Introduction

Eligibility

Coverage Options

Prescriptions, Providers & Benefits

Medicare Cost Basics

Learn About Medicare
Types of Plans

Overview of Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Supplement Insurance

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Special Needs Plans

Learn About Medicare
Medicare Enrollment

When to Enroll

How to Enroll

Changing Plans

Working Past 65

Learn About Medicare
More about Medicare

Articles and Special Topics

Learn About Medicare
FAQ

Medicare FAQ

Glossary

Other Sites

UnitedHealthcare uhc.com

UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Marketplace (ACA) plans

Individual & family plans - short term, dental & more

Medicaid plans

Small business plans

AARP Membership

Join AARP

Renew AARP Membership

AARP Member Benefits

You are in Agent mode
Close
  1. Home
  2. Medicare
  3. Introduction to Medicare
  4. Initial Enrollment Period

Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

  1. Home
  2. Medicare
  3. Introduction to Medicare
  4. Initial Enrollment Period

Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

Explore More
  • Introduction to Medicare
  • Types of Plans
  • Medicare Enrollment
    • When to Enroll
    • How to Enroll
    • Changing Plans
    • Working Past 65
    • Initial Enrollment Period
  • More about Medicare
  • FAQ

Welcome to the Medicare Enrollment and Eligibility Resource Center, your one-stop shop for Medicare information and planning for when you turn 65. Here you'll find the tools and resources you need to help you feel confident about signing up for Medicare for the first time, when you qualify due to age. If you’re qualifying for Medicare due to disability, please click here for more information.

The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)  


Am I automatically enrolled in Medicare at 65? 


Do I need Medicare if working past 65? 


Find out when you can enroll in Medicare  


What happens if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period? 


How do I know what Medicare coverage I need? 

The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

 

Around your 65th birthday (or 25th disability check), you'll have a 7-month window of time when you can sign up for Medicare. It's called your Initial Enrollment Period – or IEP for short. Your IEP includes your 65th birthday month, the 3 months before and the 3 months after.
 

 

Example: You turn 65 on June 7. Your IEP is March 1 – September 30.
 

If, however, your birthday is on the 1st of the month, then your IEP is determined as though you were born the month before.
 

Example: You turn 65 on June 1. Your IEP is February 1 – August 31.

Your IEP includes your 65th birthday month, the 3 months before and the 3 months after.

Back to Top  

Am I automatically enrolled in Medicare at 65?

 

If you currently receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you may be automatically enrolled. You'll receive your Medicare card in the mail before your 65th birthday. You'll still have an IEP, during which you may make Medicare coverage decisions.
 

If you are not currently receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when you turn 65, you'll have to sign up for Medicare yourself. Medicare may not notify you about your eligibility, so be sure to get your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) dates and put them in your calendar.
 

Back to Top  

Do I need Medicare if working past 65?

 

If you are planning to continue working past age 65, you may be able to delay enrolling in Medicare. If you have credible health coverage from your employer or are covered under a spouse's employer plan, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, and be able to delay enrolling without penalty.
 

In some situations, though, you may still be required to take full Medicare benefits at age 65 even if you plan to keep working. One such example is when an employer has fewer than 20 employees.
 

Find Out If You Can Delay Enrolling in Medicare  

Back to Top  

Find out when you can enroll in Medicare

 

For most people, the first time you can enroll in Medicare is around your 65th birthday. You can also qualify to enroll in Medicare with a qualifying disability --- after you’ve received disability benefits for 24 months), or a qualifying medical condition --- such as Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).  

You can use this tool to find your Medicare eligibility dates for age, disability or medical condition. 

Turning 65
Over 65 and Retiring or Losing Employer Coverage
Qualifying Disability
Over 65 and Retiring or Losing Employer Coverage

Enter your date of birth

Note: This information is used only to help calculate your enrollment dates

Please enter a valid date (MM/DD/YYYY)

Input field for date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

Initial Enrollment Period: Turning 65 on March 01, 2021

Enrollment Period
BIRTH MONTH
2005 CALENDER
JAN
FEB
mar
apr
may
Jun
July
aug
sep
oct
nov
dec
2005 CALENDER
JAN
FEB
mar
apr
may
Jun
July
aug
sep
oct
nov
dec
Start Over

Enter your retirement date or the date you're losing your employer coverage (whichever happens first)

Note: This information is used only to help calculate your enrollment dates.

Please enter a valid date (MM/YYYY)

Input field for date of birth

Enrollment Period
Retirement Date (Or date your coverage ends)

Special Enrollment for Parts A and B: Retiring or losing coverage in

CALENDER












Special Enrollment Period for Parts C and D: Retiring or losing coverage in

CALENDER












Start Over

Choose a radio button if you have the following:

Note: This information is used only to help calculate your enrollment dates.

First radio button input field

Second radio button input field

Last radio button input field

Enter date you began receiving disability benefits (MM/YYYY)

Please enter valid date (MM/YYYY)

Initial Enrollment Period: Began receiving disability benefits in September 2012

Enrollment Period
25 month of receiving disability benefits
2005 CALENDER
JAN
FEB
mar
apr
may
Jun
July
aug
sep
oct
nov
dec
2005 CALENDER
JAN
FEB
mar
apr
may
Jun
July
aug
sep
oct
nov
dec

Medicare Coverage and Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)

You are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) the month your Social Security disability benefits begin when you have ALS. It’s a good idea to apply for these benefits as soon as you are diagnosed, since there may be a waiting period before they kick in.

Even though you are enrolled in Original Medicare automatically, you may still make other Medicare coverage choices, such as adding Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare Coverage and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

You may get Medicare benefits at any age if you have ESRD and one of the following applies:

  • You are eligible for Medicare based on your work record.
  • You are already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, or you are eligible for benefits.
  • Your spouse or parent meets one of the above requirements.

Medicare coverage starts the fourth month you receive dialysis treatments. For example, your Medicare coverage would start on October 1 if you start getting your dialysis treatments in July.

Medicare coverage could start the first month you receive treatments if all of these apply:

  • You attend a home dialysis training program provided by a Medicare-certified training facility.
  • Your doctor expects you to complete the training and be able to do your own dialysis treatments.
  • You maintain regular dialysis treatments throughout the usual required waiting period.

You must enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) yourself. Once you have both Part A and Part B, you may make other Medicare coverage choices, such as adding Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you are 65 or older, or disabled, and are already enrolled in Part A, you may enroll in Part B without penalty if you are approved for Medicare based on ESRD. You may also have an existing Part B late enrollment penalty removed.

Start Over

What happens if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period?

 

If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, Medicare offers a General Enrollment Period (GEP) for those who did not sign up around their 65th birthday. You could face late enrollment penalties if you wait too long to sign up, and don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Learn more about missing your Initial Enrollment Period here.

 

 

Medicare General Enrollment Period


The GEP is January 1 – March 31 every year. Here's what you need to know:
 

  • You can enroll in Part A, Part B or both during the time
  • Coverage begins on July 1 of the same year
  • You may have to pay a late enrollment penalty
  • You may be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or a prescription drug (Part D) plan April 1 – June 30 of the same year

Back to Top  

How do I know what Medicare coverage I need?

 

You'll have decisions to make during your IEP, even if you're automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. What Medicare coverage you need to enroll in is based on your personal situation. Original Medicare doesn't cover everything, and Medicare coverage offered by private insurers—such as a Medicare Advantage or a Part D plan—could help fill in the gaps.

 

Consider your health and lifestyle needs, your employment status, health conditions, prescription drug use and if you need dental or vision coverage.

You need prescription drugs

 

If you use prescription drugs, you will either need to get a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Medicare Part A will only cover drugs you use in the hospital as an in-patient. Part D also covers some vaccines, such as for shingles and the flu.

 

You want dental, vision & other health benefits

 

Dental, vision, hearing and fitness benefits are not covered by Medicare Parts A, B and D. Only Medicare Advantage plans offer these benefits and others, such as transportation for medical appointments and virtual doctor visits.

 

You want help with Medicare costs

 

Medicare costs can add up. If you have Medicare Parts A & B, you can add a Medigap plan to help with out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance. You can also consider a Medicare Advantage plan that includes an out-of-pocket maximum, which can offer financial protection.

 

You are also eligible for Medicaid

 

There are Medicare plans specifically designed for people who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. Dual Special Needs Plans are a special kind of Medicare Advantage Plan that combine Parts A, B and D Medicaid, and extra benefits such as dental and vision.

Your Medicare coverage choices need to fit your health needs, lifestyle and budget. You will have a chance to review your coverage, and make changes each year during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7.

Back to Top  

Read Next:

How to Enroll  

Find a Plan

Call Us

Call UnitedHealthcare: 

FED TFN (TTY 711)

Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week.

 

Call UnitedHealthcare: 

MEDSUPP TFN (TTY 711)

Hours: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m., ET, Monday - Friday

9 a.m. – 5 p.m., ET, Saturday

Meet with a Sales Agent

Make an appointment with a licensed insurance agent/producer in your area

 

Find an Agent - opens in a new tab

Questions? We're ready to help.

TFN Modal Close

Call UnitedHealthcare at:

(TTY 711) (toll free)

Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week.

Already a member? Call the number on the back of your member ID card.

MO10050ST

(TTY 711) (toll free)

7 a.m. – 11 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, Saturday

Already a member? Call the number on the back of your member ID card.

MO10050ST

Shop Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans

Dual Special Needs Plans

[[state-start:null,AL,AS,AK,AZ,AR,CA,CO,CT,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,ID,IL,IN,IA,KS,KY,LA,ME,MD,MA,MI,MN,MS,MO,MT,MP,NE,NV,NH,NJ,NM,NC,ND,OH,OK,OR,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN,TX,UT,VT,VI,WA,VA,DC,WV,WI,WY]]Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans [[state-end]]

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Shop Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans

Dual Special Needs Plans

[[state-start:null,AL,AS,AK,AZ,AR,CA,CO,CT,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,ID,IL,IN,IA,KS,KY,LA,ME,MD,MA,MI,MN,MS,MO,MT,MP,NE,NV,NH,NJ,NM,NC,ND,OH,OK,OR,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN,TX,UT,VT,VI,WA,VA,DC,WV,WI,WY]]Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans [[state-end]]

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Tools & Resources

Get a Plan Recommendation

Estimate Drug Costs

Search for a Pharmacy

Search Doctors

Search Dentists

Tools & Resources

Get a Plan Recommendation

Estimate Drug Costs

Search for a Pharmacy

Search Doctors

Search Dentists

Learn About Medicare

Introduction to Medicare

Eligibility

Coverage Choices

Medicare FAQ

Learn About Medicare

Introduction to Medicare

Eligibility

Coverage Choices

Medicare FAQ

More

About

Contact

Language Assistance

AARP.org

More

About

Contact

Language Assistance

AARP.org

©2023 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Last updated: 03/15/2023 at 12:01 AM CT | Y0066_AARPMedicarePlans_M Last updated: 03/15/2023 at 12:01 AM CT | Y0066_UHCMedicareSolutions_M
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclaimers
  • Agents & Brokers
  • Accessibility - Opens in new tab

Session Timeout

Close
Need More Time?

Your session is about to expire. You will automatically go back to the
home page in

Learn about the Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance plans.

To continue your current session, click "Stay on this page" below.

ATTENTION: We no longer support Internet Explorer (IE) or certain versions of other browsers. Let's upgrade your browser to make sure you all functionality works as intended.

Update now Update later