Arizona Medicare Enrollment
When and how to enroll in Medicare in Arizona: Enrollment Periods Explained
Your Initial Enrollment Period, the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), the General Enrollment Period and late-enrollment penalties, explained in plain English for people in Arizona.
Medicare has deadlines, and missing one can cost you
Unlike many things in life, Medicare has specific windows for signing up, and missing them can mean waiting, gaps in coverage or a penalty that lasts as long as you have Medicare.
Here is a plain-English guide to the main enrollment periods for people in Arizona.
When and how to enroll in Medicare in Arizona
We help people across Arizona, including Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa. Medicare's enrollment rules are federal and the same in every state, but the plans sold, and what they cost, depend on where you live, and a licensed agent can talk through what is available to you in Arizona today.
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling is also available in Arizona through Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), at 1-800-432-4040. That is a separate resource from GetFastRates.com, and it is worth a call whether or not you ever talk to us.
Questions or complaints about an insurance company or agent in Arizona can go to Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) (difi.az.gov).
Initial Enrollment Period (when you first become eligible)
If you are turning 65, your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and the three months after. If you sign up in the months before you turn 65, coverage generally starts on the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up in your birthday month or later, coverage generally starts the first of the following month.
If you are already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits when you turn 65, you are generally enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically, and your card arrives in the mail. If you are not, you sign up yourself, online at Social Security (ssa.gov) or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. People with railroad coverage use the Railroad Retirement Board.
Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7
Every year from October 15 to December 7, anyone with Medicare can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan. Coverage from a change made then starts January 1.
Your plan mails you an Annual Notice of Change each fall. Reading it, and checking your doctors and prescriptions again, is the most useful habit for avoiding surprises.
Other windows to know about
- General Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31, if you missed your Initial Enrollment Period and need to sign up for Part B. Coverage generally starts the month after you sign up, and a penalty may apply
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31, for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan to switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare
- Medigap open enrollment: six months starting the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, with protection from health-based denial
- Special Enrollment Periods: certain life events open a window to enroll or change plans. See our special enrollment guide
Late-enrollment penalties (and why timing matters)
- Part B: if you could have had Part B and didn't sign up, your premium generally goes up 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had it, and that generally lasts as long as you have Part B
- Part D: going 63 days or more in a row without Part D or creditable drug coverage can mean a penalty of 1% of a national base amount for each full month, for as long as you have Part D
- Part A: if you have to buy Part A, a late-enrollment penalty can apply as well
- You can avoid these if you had qualifying coverage through work, so it's worth checking before you delay anything
How we can help
- Work out which enrollment period you are in and when it ends
- Explain what to do if you or your spouse are still working
- Help you pick plans for your first year, or review the ones you have
- Tell you honestly if waiting is a good idea for you or if it will cost you
Before you rely on this page
This page is educational. It is not a recommendation of any plan, and it does not promise eligibility, enrollment, pricing or availability.
GetFastRates.com is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Calling connects you with licensed insurance help. Plan availability, costs, benefits, and enrollment rules can vary by state, carrier, and individual situation.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. We represent a limited number of organizations, which offer a limited number of products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
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Common questions
When can I sign up for Medicare?
Your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. If you miss it, you generally wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), and a penalty may apply.
When is the Annual Enrollment Period?
October 15 to December 7 each year. You can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, and your new coverage starts January 1.
What if I'm still working at 65?
It depends on your coverage through work. Many people with job-based coverage can delay Part B without a penalty and use a Special Enrollment Period later, but the rules depend on your employer's size and your plan. Check with your benefits office and a licensed agent before you delay.
Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I get Social Security?
If you're already getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you are generally enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically. You may still have decisions to make about Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D.
Are the enrollment rules different in Arizona?
The enrollment periods are set by federal Medicare and are the same in every state. The plans you can choose, and some Medigap protections, depend on where you live. A licensed agent can tell you what applies in Arizona.
Does it cost anything to talk to an agent?
Talking through your options with us is free and comes with no obligation. Any plan you choose has its own premium, set by the plan and its insurance company.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Call to talk with a licensed agent who helps people in Arizona who will be honest about what fits and what doesn't.
- Licensed insurance help
- No guaranteed eligibility, pricing, or availability
- Educational starting point
GetFastRates.com is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Calling connects you with licensed insurance help. Plan availability, costs, benefits, and enrollment rules can vary by state, carrier, and individual situation.