If you find the different enrollment periods within Medicare confusing, don't go anywhere. In today's video, we'll go over every part of Medicare and the enrollment periods that come with each.

My name is Lindsay Engle, and I'm the Medicare expert for Elite Insurance Partners and MedicareFAQ.com.

Medicare comes with many different parts and plans. Each one has a specific enrollment period, and some have multiple. In this video, I discuss which enrollment periods fall under each part.

First, we'll discuss Part A and Part B. Part A is your inpatient coverage, and Part B is your outpatient coverage. These parts come with two different enrollment periods:
• Initial Enrollment Period: When you can first enroll in Parts A and B. Begins 3 months before your 65th birthday, lasts the month of, and continues 3 months after your 65th birthday
• General Enrollment Period: If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, this is the next time you can enroll in Parts A and B.  It occurs annually between January 1 and March 31. Your coverage will start on July 1
– If you have a change of circumstance, you can qualify for a Special Election Period (example: having creditable group coverage through your employer)

Next, we'll discuss the different enrollment periods that come along with Medicare Advantage plans.
• Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP): Begins three months before your 65th birthday and when it ends is dependent on when your Part B becomes effective
• Annual Enrollment Period: If you miss your ICEP, the next time you can enroll is during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which occurs each year between October 15 and December 7
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: If you're enrolled in an Advantage plan, and you want to make changes, you can do so annually between January 1 and March 31
– You could also qualify for a Special Election Period due to a change in circumstance

Part D prescription drug coverage also comes with similar enrollment periods.
• Initial Enrollment Period: During this time, you can also sign up for Part D
• Annual Enrollment Period: If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, the next time you can enroll is during the Annual Enrollment Period
– You can also qualify for a Special Election Period, just like Parts A, B, and C (Advantage)

Now, let's go over when you can enroll in a Medigap plan.
• Medigap Enrollment Period: This is your only enrollment period for Medigap. It lasts six months and begins once you enroll in Part B – it isn't annual like the others
– Outside of the Open Enrollment Period, you can enroll in a Medigap plan at any time of the year as long as you have Part B – the only difference is you will have to answer health questions

A common misconception is that you can enroll in a Medigap plan during the Annual Enrollment Period without having to answer any health questions. This is not true unless it overlaps with your Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

The last enrollment period we'll go over today is for those eligible for Medicare due to a disability.
Initial Enrollment Period: You become eligible for Medicare once you collect Social Security Disability Income for 24 months. After 24 months, your Initial Enrollment Period will begin. This is the same 7-month window we discussed at the beginning of the video
Second Initial Enrollment Period: In addition to your Initial Enrollment Period, you get a second one when you age in at 65

Thank you so much for watching! If you'd like more information on the different enrollment periods mentioned, make sure to check out our enrollment period playlist.

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