Medicare 2026

Turning 65 in Cary? Don't Miss Your 7-Month Sign-Up Window

# Aging into Medicare: the enrollment window you don't want to…

CARY, N.C. — If a 65th birthday is on your calendar, so is one of the most important deadlines of your adult life. Medicare gives you a seven-month window to sign up when you first become eligible, and missing it can mean lifelong penalties and gaps in coverage. Here's how the Initial Enrollment Period works, and the first steps to take from right here in Cary.

What the Initial Enrollment Period actually is

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month window built around the month you turn 65. It starts three months before your birthday month, includes your birthday month, and ends three months after. So if you turn 65 in June, your window runs from March 1 through September 30.

This is the time to enroll in Original Medicare — Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) — if you aren't automatically enrolled. People already getting Social Security benefits usually get signed up automatically. Everyone else needs to enroll through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security directly.

Why timing matters more than people think

Signing up late can be expensive. If you don't have other creditable coverage and you skip Part B during your IEP, you can face a permanent Part B late-enrollment penalty — 10% added to your monthly premium for each 12 months you delayed. A similar penalty applies to Part D (prescription drug coverage) if you go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage after becoming eligible.

The safest move: mark your seven-month window on the calendar as soon as you know your Medicare start date, and don't wait until the last month. Enrolling in the three months before your birthday month means your coverage can start the first day of your birthday month.

Still working? Coverage from a job changes the math

Plenty of people in Cary keep working past 65, and Wake County has no shortage of employers offering group health plans. If you (or your spouse) are covered by an employer plan based on current work, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty and use a Special Enrollment Period later.

Two important cautions:

• Small employers (fewer than 20 employees): Medicare usually becomes the primary payer at 65, so most people should enroll in Part A and Part B on time.
• COBRA and retiree coverage don't count as active employer coverage for delaying Part B. Sign up during your IEP anyway.

If you're unsure, ask your employer's benefits office in writing whether your plan is "creditable" for Medicare purposes.

The first steps to take in Cary

Here's a simple order of operations:

1. Confirm your eligibility date. Check your "Welcome to Medicare" mailings, or create an account at ssa.gov. 2. Decide about Part B. Enroll on time unless you have qualifying employer coverage. 3. Learn the parts. Original Medicare (A and B) covers hospital and medical services. Part D covers prescriptions. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative that bundles A, B, and usually D through a private plan. Medigap policies help with Original Medicare's out-of-pocket costs. 4. Compare coverage options. Cary sits in Wake County, where multiple Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered each year. You can see the full list on the Plan Finder at medicare.gov. 5. Get free, unbiased help. North Carolina's SHIP program — called SHIIP here — offers one-on-one counseling at no cost. Call 1-855-408-1212.

What's new for 2027 that turning-65 enrollees should know

A few program-level updates worth understanding as you shop:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 for covered prescriptions in a calendar year.
• Part D deductible maximum: Plans can set a deductible of up to $615 in 2026 and up to $700 in 2027.
• The "donut hole" is gone. As of 2025, Part D moved to a simpler three-phase design — deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can now choose to spread your yearly drug costs into predictable monthly payments instead of paying a big bill at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income enrollees pay extra for Parts B and D. In 2026, the income-related surcharge begins above $109,000 for a single filer (based on your tax return from two years earlier).