What do I need to do when I turn 65 for Medicare?

When you turn 65, enroll in Medicare Parts A and B during your Initial Enrollment Period (the 7 months around your 65th birthday), then choose your path: Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement and a Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered, then enroll. A licensed agent can guide the whole process at no cost.

When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65?

Your Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window: the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Signing up in the first 3 months means your coverage starts the month you turn 65. If you're still working with creditable employer coverage, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty.

Do I have to sign up for Medicare at 65 if I'm still working?

Not necessarily. If you or your spouse have creditable coverage through a current employer, you may be able to delay Part B enrollment without a late penalty, then enroll through a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends. The rules depend on employer size and coverage type, so it's worth confirming before you decide - we help people navigate this.

Is Medicare Advantage or Medigap better when starting Medicare?

It depends on your priorities. Medigap (with Original Medicare) offers freedom to see any doctor nationwide and predictable low costs at a higher premium. Medicare Advantage has a low or $0 premium and extra benefits but uses a network. As a new enrollee, this is your most important decision - we compare both for your specific doctors, drugs, and budget for free.

Will you help me with Medicare Part D drug coverage?

Yes. Many brokers stopped helping with Part D because commissions were eliminated, leaving people to figure out drug coverage alone. We still help you match your exact medications to the lowest-cost Part D plan, because we're focused on taking care of you, not the commission. It's part of getting your Medicare right, and it costs you nothing.

California Medicare Guide

How Medicare WorksNew to Medicare / Turning 65Parts A, B, C, D Advantage Plans Medigap Plans Advantage vs Medigap Enrollment Periods Birthday Rule (CA)Costs & Giveback

New to Medicare? Turning 65 in California (2026)

Key Takeaways

Your Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window: the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.
First decision: Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D, or Medicare Advantage. This shapes everything.
If you're still working with employer coverage, the timing rules are different — don't assume you must enroll at 65.
Missing your window (without other coverage) can cause lifelong late penalties on Part B and Part D.
A licensed California Medicare agent walks you through all of it — free, and we even help with Part D that other brokers now skip.

Medicare Part A, B, C, and D Explained SIMPLY - Watch on YouTube

Turning 65? Welcome to Medicare — and take a breath, because it's more manageable than it looks. This page is your simple starting point: what to do, in what order, and when. We help hundreds of Californians through this every year, and we'll make it straightforward for you too.

When Do I Sign Up for Medicare?

Your 7-month window

Your Initial Enrollment Period spans the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Signing up in the first 3 months means coverage starts sooner.

Still working at 65?

If you (or your spouse) have creditable employer coverage, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty. The rules here trip people up — check before you decide.

See the full breakdown on our Medicare Enrollment Periods page.

Your Step-by-Step Path

Step	What to do
1. Learn the basics	Understand the four parts of Medicare — see Parts A, B, C, D explained.
2. Enroll in Parts A & B	Sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period through Social Security (ssa.gov). Most get Part A free; Part B has a premium.
3. Choose your path	Decide: Medigap + Part D, OR a Medicare Advantage plan. See Advantage vs Medigap.
4. Check doctors & drugs	Make sure your doctors and prescriptions are covered by the plan you're considering. This is critical.
5. Enroll in your plan	Sign up for your chosen Medigap + Part D, or your Advantage plan. We can handle this for you.

Where to enroll: You sign up for Medicare Parts A and B directly through Social Security at ssa.gov/benefits/medicare. Then we help you with the rest — choosing your plan, checking doctors and drugs, and enrolling in Medigap or Advantage plus Part D. Free.

The First Big Decision: Advantage or Medigap?

Everything hinges on this choice. In short: Medigap (with Original Medicare) gives you the freedom to see any doctor nationwide with very predictable costs, at a higher premium. Medicare Advantage bundles everything with a low or $0 premium and extra perks, but uses a network. Neither is universally better — it depends on your doctors, health, travel, and budget. We break it down fully on our Advantage vs Medigap page, and we'll help you decide based on YOUR situation.

Why work with us — even for the parts others skip

Here's something most people don't know: many brokers have stopped helping with Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans) because the commissions were eliminated. So new-to-Medicare folks often get left to figure out their drug coverage alone — and picking the wrong Part D plan can cost hundreds in unnecessary drug costs.

We still help you with Part D — matching your exact medications to the lowest-cost plan — because we're here to take care of you, not chase a commission. It's part of doing this right. When we help you with the whole picture (including the parts other brokers now skip), you get better coverage and a partner for the long haul. That's the CalHealth difference, and it costs you nothing.

What Does It Cost to Get Help?

Nothing. A licensed California Medicare agent costs you zero — you pay the same premium as going direct, because agents are paid by the carriers (not by you). What you get is someone to explain your options, check your doctors and drugs, handle the paperwork, and be there when you have questions down the road. If you're turning 65, let's make your Medicare start smooth and correct. See how Medicare works or just reach out.