Medicare Initial Enrollment Period

Refers to the three months before the month of your 65th birthday, your birth month, and the three months after.

Sutter Health has partnered with eHealth to help you compare your Medicare Advantage coverage options.

Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period

Failing to sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period may mean late-enrollment penalties.

Some of these penalties can apply for the life of your Medicare coverage
Each component of Medicare (Part A, Part B and Part D) has its own penalty calculation

Avoid costly lifelong Medicare penalties. Enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period and consider an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan that includes your Sutter Health-affiliated doctor.

Learn more about Medicare’s Late Enrollment Penalties.

Retiring?

As you approach retirement, make sure you understand the penalties you may incur if you don’t enroll in Medicare on time. Even if you will have other coverage available to you after you retire, you will still need to make some Medicare enrollment decisions before you stop working and may still be required to enroll in Medicare. You have eight months to enroll in Medicare once you stop working or your employer coverage ends (whichever happens first).

View Medicare Decisions

Special Needs Plans

Millions of Americans are eligible for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, but not yet enrolled. These programs help qualifying patients with limited income and resources pay Medicare’s cost-sharing expenses, including premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance.

If you would like more information about Medicare's Extra Help programs or need help determining whether you are eligible, complete our secure form to have a licensed insurance broker contact you. Brokers are available in person, by telephone or virtually.

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Choose Medicare Advantage

Consider an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan. These plans help simplify the complexity around Medicare, and may offer more comprehensive and cost-effective benefits – including Part A hospital insurance, Part B medical insurance, and Part D prescription drug benefits. Some also include dental and vision care.

Here’s how you can benefit from choosing an all-in-one Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period:

Obtain comprehensive coverage
Avoid lifelong Medicare penalties
Consolidate your Medicare medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage into one plan that may also additional benefits
Potentially save on doctor visits (including low no co-pays), and prescription drug costs
Limit your annual out-of-pocket costs
Receive a coordinated approach to your care
Receive preventive services, including annual physicals, and possibly other comprehensive coverage including, X-ray and lab services, routine dental and vision care
Travel with peace of mind knowing you have urgent and emergency coverage access nationwide, as with Original Medicare

Having the right health insurance coverage is important to staying healthy. Medicare Advantage patients:

Are more likely to receive preventive care
Are half as likely to go to the emergency room
Are less likely to be admitted to the hospital
Go home from the hospital one day earlier
Are less likely to be readmitted to hospital after discharge*

*Source: Based on Sutter Health 2019 managed care data–when compared to people on fee-for-service Medicare.

Find the right Medicare Advantage plan for you.

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Helpful Resources

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Late Enrollment Penalties

Accessing Care

This is not an advertisement on behalf of any Medicare Advantage health plan or plans. For information about Medicare, visit medicare.gov or call (800) MEDICARE 24 hours a day, seven days a week.