Medicare 2026
How the Medicare IEP works for people in Norwich
NORWICH, Conn. — Turning 65 comes with a lot of paperwork, and Medicare sits near the top of the pile. The good news: the federal government gives you a generous 7-month runway to sign up, called the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). The not-so-good news: if you sleep through it, you can face lifelong late-enrollment penalties and gaps in coverage.
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Key takeaways
- The Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window built around your 65th birthday month, and missing it can lead to lifelong Part B late-enrollment penalties.
- If you already get Social Security, you're typically enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically, otherwise you must sign up yourself through Social Security.
- Part A covers hospital stays, Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care, and Part D covers prescription drugs, with a choice between Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.
- Connecticut's SHIP program, CHOICES, offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling, and you can also compare plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Aging into Medicare in Norwich: the window you don't want to miss
Here's what Norwich residents need to know as that 65th birthday approaches.
What the Initial Enrollment Period actually is
Your IEP is a 7-month stretch built around your 65th birthday month:
- The 3 months before your birthday month
- Your birthday month
- The 3 months after
If your birthday is in June, for example, your window opens March 1 and closes September 30. Sign up in the three months before your birthday, and coverage typically starts the first day of your birthday month. Wait until later, and coverage can be delayed.
This is the one-time window everyone gets when they first become eligible. Miss it without other creditable coverage (like an employer plan), and you may be stuck waiting for the General Enrollment Period — and paying a Part B penalty that can follow you for life.
Your first steps, in order
1. Decide if you need to actively enroll. If you're already receiving Social Security benefits, you'll typically be enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically. If you're not drawing Social Security yet, you need to sign up yourself at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security.
2. Check your current coverage. Still working and covered by an employer plan? Covered through a spouse? A Norwich SHIP counselor can help you figure out whether to delay Part B without penalty — this is one of the most common mix-ups.
3. Learn the parts. Part A covers hospital stays. Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Part D covers prescription drugs. From there, you'll choose a path: Original Medicare (often paired with a Medigap policy and a stand-alone Part D plan) or Medicare Advantage (Part C), which bundles coverage through a private insurer.
4. Look at the local landscape. Norwich is in New London County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered each year. Availability is set at the county level, so two neighbors in Norwich generally see the same menu of options.
What Medicare looks like in 2026 and 2027 and 2027
A few program-wide numbers worth knowing before you enroll:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 for the year in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit that, you pay nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The "donut hole" is gone. As of 2025, Part D moved to three simpler phases — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA: higher-income beneficiaries pay a surcharge on Parts B and D. In 2026, that starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer (based on your 2024 tax return).
Enrollment periods to keep on your calendar
Your IEP is a one-time event, but Medicare has other windows you'll live with going forward:
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. This is when you can switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for the next year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change during this window.
Norwich residents don't need to rush into a specific plan on day one — but you do need to be enrolled in the parts of Medicare you're eligible for during your IEP.
Getting unbiased help in Norwich
Before you make any decisions, talk to someone who isn't selling anything. Connecticut's SHIP program — called CHOICES (Connecticut's Program for Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information, Counseling, Eligibility Screening) — offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling to New London County residents. The Southeastern Connecticut Area Agency on Aging in Norwich is a good local starting point.
You can also compare plan options directly at medicare.gov/plan-compare using your ZIP code and prescription list.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: I'm still working at 65 and have insurance through my job. Do I have to enroll in Medicare?
Q: What if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period?
Q: Do I have to pick between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage right away?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.