--- title: "Medicare Special Enrollment Period at Sutter Health" description: "You may qualify to change Medicare plans during a Special Enrollment Period. Learn about your options, plan benefits and help available for costs." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance) / 3. [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare) / 4. Special Enrollment Period ![woman-on-couch-smiling](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/Billing-and-Insurance/woman-on-couch-smiling.jpg?h=1414&iar=0&w=2121) # Medicare Special Enrollment Period  You may be able to change your Medicare coverage any time with a qualifying event. [Compare Medicare plans](https://www.ehealth.com/Sutterwebsite) ![woman-on-couch-smiling](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/Billing-and-Insurance/woman-on-couch-smiling.jpg?h=1414&iar=0&w=2121) **Section menu** - [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare") - [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period") - [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics") - [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits") - [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period") - [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period") - [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties") - [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare") - [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period") - [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics") - [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits") - [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period") - [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period") - [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties") ## Special Enrollment Period  Certain life changes may qualify you for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period. This allows you to enroll in a Medicare plan or change your coverage outside of Medicare regular enrollment periods. You may be eligible if: - You lose your current health coverage - You move to a new address - You experience other life changes like leaving a job or gaining Medicaid Each situation has its own rules about when and how you can make changes. View the full list of [Medicare Special Enrollment Periods](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan/special-enrollment-periods "Medicare Special Enrollment Periods") to see what applies to you. ## Working after 65? If you’re planning to retire after 65 and have coverage through your employer, you may be able to enroll during a Medicare Special Enrollment Period. Once your job or health coverage ends (whichever comes first), you have 8 months to enroll. Missing this deadline could lead to [lifetime penalties](https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/avoid-penalties "lifetime penalties"). View this Medicare fact sheet to help you with important decisions about your Medicare coverage: [View Medicare Fact Sheet (PDF)](https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Find-Your-Provider-Type/Employers-and-Unions/FS4-Medicare-for-people-over-65-nearing-retirment.pdf "View Medicare Fact Sheet (PDF)"). ## Understand your medicare options **Original Medicare includes:** - **Part A** \- hospital insurance - **Part B** \- medical insurance Many people choose additional coverage to help meet their healthcare and prescription drug needs and to avoid Medicare late enrollment penalties. Options may include: - **Original Medicare** plus a **Part D prescription drug plan** and a **Medicare Supplement Insurance plan**, also called Medigap, to help pay some out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare - A Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which combines **Medicare Parts A and B** and may include prescription drug coverage and additional benefits not available through Original Medicare¹ These plans are offered through Medicare-approved private insurance companies. ¹Available in Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans. ## Explore Medicare plan options Sutter works with eHealth, a licensed insurance agency, to help you find the right plan for you. [Compare plans](https://www.ehealth.com/Sutterwebsite) This is not an advertisement on behalf of any Medicare plan or plans. For information about Medicare, visit medicare.gov or call 1-800- MEDICARE 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY Users should call 1-877-486-2048. eHealth is an insurance agency offering plans from many insurance companies and is not affiliated with the government. Sutter Health co-hosted events are not affiliated with eHealth or the government. For accommodation of persons with special needs at events, call 1-800-478-8837 (TTY 711). Enrollment in a plan may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period or you’re in your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period. 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