About Medicare Deadlines

Why it exists

Medicare has a handful of deadlines that are easy to miss and expensive when you do. Sign up for Part B late without the right coverage and the penalty is 10% for every full year you waited, for life. Miss the 6-month Medigap window and, in most states, insurers can turn you down or charge more because of your health. Most of the advice online is written by insurers and brokers selling plans, and almost none of it works out your dates.

How it works

• You answer a few questions: your birth date, your coverage now, whether you’re still working, and a few more.
• Fixed rules, written from official Medicare, Social Security, CMS and IRS pages, turn those answers into dated steps. No AI writes or checks them.
• Every step links to the official page it comes from. You can check each one yourself.
• The dates are worked out in your browser. Your answers never leave your device.

How the rules are kept right

Every rule and its source is listed on the sources page. The rules are re-checked against the official pages every week, and the yearly figures (premiums and income limits) are updated when CMS publishes them each fall. Rules last reviewed October 2026.

What it isn’t

• It isn’t Medicare, Social Security or any government agency, and isn’t affiliated with them.
• It doesn’t sell plans, take money from insurers or brokers, or pass your details to anyone. There’s no sign-up.
• It’s general information, not advice for your situation. Some cases aren’t covered at all, such as Medicare through disability; the sources page lists them.

Free, one-on-one help

For advice about your own situation, talk to your state’s SHIP counselor. SHIP counseling is free, government-funded and unbiased. You can also call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.