Turning 65 soon? Here's exactly what to do

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after — a 7-month window in total. Missing it can mean a lifetime late-enrollment penalty on Part B, added to every premium you pay afterward.

During that window, you'll choose between Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, which often includes extra benefits like dental and vision. Neither is automatically the 'better' choice — it depends on which doctors and pharmacies you actually use.

If you're still working and covered by an employer plan when you turn 65, the rules change — you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. This is exactly the kind of detail worth checking before you assume you need to enroll immediately.