Guide

Turning 65 in Arizona: your Medicare checklist

A simple, month-by-month plan so you enroll on time, dodge the penalties, and pick coverage that fits.

Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1‑800‑MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Your month-by-month checklist

Turning 65 is the one time nearly everyone should pay attention to Medicare deadlines. Follow this timeline and you'll be in great shape.

6 months before

Get oriented

Learn the parts of Medicare and decide your general direction — Original Medicare with Medigap, or Medicare Advantage. Make a list of your doctors and prescriptions; you'll use it to compare plans.

3 months before

Your window opens

Your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period begins. If you're not already getting Social Security, sign up for Parts A and B at ssa.gov/medicare. Enrolling now means coverage can start the month you turn 65.

Birthday month

Choose your coverage

Compare Part D, Medicare Advantage and Medigap options for your ZIP code and enroll. This is also the start of your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment, when you can't be turned down for health reasons.

3 months after

Window closes

The last stretch of your Initial Enrollment Period. Make sure everything is in place to avoid late penalties and coverage gaps.

Every fall

Review yearly

During Open Enrollment (Oct 15–Dec 7), re-check your plan's costs and drug list against any changes. Switch if a better fit is available for January 1.

Don't forget

Check whether you qualify for help paying costs — the Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help can lower premiums and drug costs, and a free Arizona SHIP counselor (1-800-432-4040) can screen you in one call. If you're still working, confirm whether to delay Part B. And before you enroll, make sure your doctors and medications are covered by the plan you pick.

Frequently asked questions

Start about 3 to 6 months ahead. Your Initial Enrollment Period opens 3 months before your 65th-birthday month, and signing up in those first 3 months lets your coverage begin as early as the month you turn 65. Starting early avoids gaps and rushed decisions.

If you have solid coverage from an employer with 20 or more employees, you can often delay Part B without penalty and enroll later through a Special Enrollment Period — but confirm your situation first, since rules differ for small employers, COBRA and retiree plans. Many people still take premium-free Part A at 65.

Missing the enrollment window and getting a lifelong penalty, or choosing a plan without checking that their doctors and medications are covered. A quick review with a free SHIP counselor or a licensed agent before you enroll prevents both.

Turning 65 soon? Compare your Arizona options

Compare plans and enroll online, or get free, confidential help from a licensed Arizona agent first.

Compare Plans & Enroll Contact Darin Weidauer