Medicare 2026

Marietta guide to Medicare deadlines at age 65

If your 65th birthday is coming up, you're about to make some of the most important health coverage decisions of your life. The good news: Medicare gives you a clear window to sign up, and you don't have to figure it out all at once. Here's how the process works for folks in Marietta, plus the deadlines you'll want on your calendar.

Turning 65 in Marietta? Here's How to Handle Medicare, Step by Step

Your Initial Enrollment Period: A 7-Month Window

When you turn 65, you get a personal enrollment window called the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). It lasts seven months:

• The three months before your 65th birthday month
• Your birthday month
• The three months after your birthday month

If your birthday is in June, for example, your IEP runs from March 1 through September 30. Signing up in the three months before your birthday month means your coverage can start on the first day of your birthday month — the earliest possible start date.

Waiting until the last three months of your IEP can delay when your coverage begins, so most people aim to enroll early. And if you miss your IEP entirely without other qualifying coverage, you may face lifelong late-enrollment penalties on Part B and Part D.

Step 1: Decide If You Need to Actively Sign Up

Some people are enrolled in Medicare automatically:

• If you're already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you'll be signed up for Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) automatically. Your red, white, and blue card should arrive in the mail about three months before your birthday.
• If you're not collecting Social Security yet — which is more common these days as people work longer — you'll need to enroll yourself through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov/medicare or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Still working with employer coverage at 65? That's a common situation in the Marietta area. You may be able to delay Part B without a penalty, but the rules depend on how large your employer is and how the coverage is structured. Talk to your benefits administrator before you turn 65 — don't guess.

Step 2: Understand the Parts of Medicare

Original Medicare has two main pieces:

• Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, and some home health. Most people pay no premium for Part A because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes while working.
• Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. Part B has a monthly premium set each year by CMS.

From there, you have a big choice to make:

• Stay with Original Medicare and consider adding a stand-alone Part D drug plan and possibly a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy to help with out-of-pocket costs, or
• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which is offered by private insurers and typically bundles Parts A, B, and usually D into one plan.

Marietta is in Cobb County, where a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are available. You can compare what's offered by ZIP code using the official Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare.

Step 3: Know the 2027 Drug Coverage Rules

Part D got a major overhaul, and 2027 continues those consumer-friendly changes. Here's what to know:

• The annual out-of-pocket cap for Part D is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs hit that limit, you pay $0 for the rest of the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027 (plans can set it lower).
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone — as of 2025, Part D has just three phases (deductible, initial coverage, catastrophic).
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into predictable monthly bills instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to opt into.

If your income is higher, be aware of IRMAA — an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. In 2026, IRMAA kicks in above $109,000 for a single filer (based on your tax return from two years earlier).

Step 4: Give Yourself Time to Compare

Once you're enrolled in Parts A and B, you don't have to rush your drug or Advantage plan choice — but you do want to make it during your IEP so your coverage starts on time. Things worth checking:

• Are your doctors and hospitals in the plan's network? (For Marietta residents, that often means Wellstar, Northside, Emory, or Piedmont providers — confirm before enrolling.)
• Are your prescriptions on the plan's drug list (formulary), and at what tier?
• What are the out-of-pocket maximums and the plan's rules for referrals or prior authorization?

The Medicare Plan Finder shows all plans available in your ZIP code and lets you enter your drug list to estimate costs.

Step 5: Mark the Ongoing Enrollment Dates

After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, two annual windows matter:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. You can join, drop, or switch Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.