Turning 65 and New to Medicare
Turning 65 opens your first Medicare enrollment window, and it opens before your birthday. The choices you make in this window shape your coverage and your costs for years. Some of them are hard to undo.
I am Nick Walters, an independent broker serving the Mahoning Valley and Western Pennsylvania. I walk you through the deadlines and the choices in plain language, at no cost to you.
Your Initial Enrollment Period
When you turn 65, Medicare gives you a 7 month window to enroll, called your Initial Enrollment Period. It opens 3 months before your birth month, includes your birth month, and runs 3 months after. Missing it without a valid exception can mean late enrollment penalties that follow you for as long as you have Medicare.
Part B is where most of your predictable cost sits. CMS sets a standard monthly Part B premium each year, and for 2026 it is $202.90 a month. People with higher incomes pay more than the standard amount. You can check the current figure in the CMS rate update (opens in a new tab) any time.
Still working at 65? Different rules can apply. Whether you can safely delay Medicare depends on the size of your employer and whether your group coverage counts as creditable under Medicare's rules. Getting this wrong is one of the most common and costly mistakes I see, and it is completely avoidable with a short conversation.
Medicare Plans in the Mahoning Valley
When you turn 65, you have two main paths for your coverage.
Path one: Medicare Advantage
A Medicare Advantage plan bundles your Medicare benefits into one plan from a private carrier. Most plans include drug coverage, and many add benefits like dental, vision, or hearing. Plans use networks, and every plan caps your yearly out of pocket spending.
Path two: Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D
Original Medicare covers a large share of your medical costs, and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan helps with much of the rest. You pair it with a Part D drug plan for prescriptions. This path trades a higher monthly premium for predictable costs and the freedom to see any provider that accepts Medicare.
Which path fits you?
There is no universal answer. It depends on your doctors, your medications, your budget, and how much time you spend away from home. I compare both paths for your exact situation, side by side, so the decision is based on facts instead of ads.
What Working With Me Looks Like
First, a short conversation about your dates, your doctors, and your medications. Then I map your enrollment window so nothing is missed. When the time comes, I compare the plans available to you from 13 carriers and explain the trade offs in plain language. You decide. I handle the paperwork.
And I stay in the picture after you enroll. Plans change every year, so a free annual plan review each fall keeps your coverage working as your life changes.
Turning 65 Questions
When should I enroll if I am turning 65?
Your Initial Enrollment Period is a 7 month window: the 3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and the 3 months after. Enrolling in the first 3 months usually starts your coverage on the first day of your birth month. Waiting can push your start date back.
Do I have to sign up if I am still working at 65?
It depends on your employer coverage. With 20 or more employees, the group plan usually pays first and you can often delay Medicare without penalty. With fewer than 20, Medicare usually becomes primary at 65, and delaying Part B can cost you. This is worth checking carefully before you decide.
What happens if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period?
Without a qualifying exception, you can face late enrollment penalties. The Part B penalty adds 10 percent to your premium for each full 12 month period you could have enrolled but did not, and it does not expire. Part D has its own separate penalty. Enrolling on time avoids both.
What does Medicare cost when I turn 65?
Most people pay no premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Part B has a standard monthly premium that CMS sets each year, and it is $202.90 a month for 2026. It can be higher if your income is above the threshold Medicare uses. Your total cost also depends on which coverage path you choose.
Can I keep my current doctors?
It depends on the path you choose. Original Medicare is accepted by most doctors and hospitals nationwide. Medicare Advantage plans use networks that vary by plan. Checking your doctors against any plan is a standard part of my process before you enroll.
Is working with you free?
Yes. Carriers pay me when you enroll through me, and you pay the same premium either way. My job is to find the fit, not to push a company.
Have a question that is not here? Ask me directly.
Is your 65th birthday coming up?
Whether it is six months away or six weeks away, there is time to make a confident decision. I meet by phone or in person, and the conversation costs nothing.