Your Medicare Enrollment Window
Opens at 65 — Don't Miss It
The 7-month Initial Enrollment Period is the most important deadline you'll face at 65. Miss it, and you could pay higher premiums for the rest of your life. Let's make sure that doesn't happen.
No cost. No obligation. Just clarity on your Medicare options before the deadline.
Your 7-Month Enrollment Window
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) starts 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after. That's it — 7 months to make a decision that affects the rest of your life.
Before
Begins ✅
Before
Open
Before
Open
Birthday
After
Open
After
Open
After
The Penalties for Waiting
These aren't temporary fees. They're permanent surcharges added to your monthly premium for as long as you're on Medicare.
Part B Penalty
For every 12-month period you delay signing up for Part B without creditable coverage, your premium increases by 10% — permanently.
Part D Penalty
Each month you delay Part D (prescription drug coverage) without other creditable drug coverage costs you a permanent 1% monthly surcharge.
Coverage Gaps
Miss your window entirely and you may have a gap in coverage — meaning any medical event in that period is 100% out of pocket.
What We Cover in Your Free 30-Minute Review
This isn't a sales call. It's an education session designed to give you everything you need to make a confident decision.
Your Specific Enrollment Deadline
We calculate your exact IEP window and confirm your specific enrollment dates based on your birthdate and situation.
Part A vs. Part B — What You Actually Need
We explain what's automatic, what requires action, and whether your current employer coverage affects your timeline.
Advantage vs. Supplement Comparison
We compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans side-by-side so you understand exactly what you're choosing between.
Prescription Drug Coverage
We review your current medications and identify the most cost-effective Part D plan available in your area.
Plans Available in Your Area
We pull up real plans from real carriers available at your zip code — not generic estimates.
A Clear Action Plan
You leave the call knowing exactly what to enroll in, when to do it, and what happens next. No confusion.
Rodney Cummings
I've spent years helping people navigate Medicare — not just find a plan, but understand it. As a licensed independent advisor, I work with dozens of carriers so I can show you the full picture without any pressure to go one direction.
I specialize in helping people turning 65 get Medicare right the first time. Because the decisions you make now affect your coverage — and your costs — for decades.
How to Get Enrolled — Start to Finish
From your free review to your coverage being active — here's exactly what the process looks like.
Book Your Free Review
Schedule a 30-minute call. Tell me your birthdate, zip code, and whether you have employer coverage.
We Review Your Options
I walk you through the plans available in your area and explain the real differences — costs, networks, drug coverage.
You Choose What's Right
There's no pressure. You pick what fits your situation. I help you enroll — and the carriers pay my fee.
Coverage Confirmed
Your plan is in place before the deadline. You get a confirmation and an ongoing resource if anything changes.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement
Two very different approaches to Medicare coverage. Here's a plain-English comparison of what matters most.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- ✓ Often $0 monthly premium
- ✓ Includes drug coverage (Part D)
- ✓ Often includes dental, vision, hearing
- ✓ Out-of-pocket maximum protection
- ⚠️ Network restrictions apply
- ⚠️ Prior authorizations possible
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
- ✓ Use any Medicare-accepting provider
- ✓ No networks or referrals needed
- ✓ Very predictable out-of-pocket costs
- ✓ No prior authorization requirements
- ⚠️ Requires separate Part D plan
- ⚠️ Monthly premium (varies by plan letter)
Original Medicare Only
- ⚠️ No out-of-pocket maximum
- ⚠️ 20% coinsurance on all Part B services
- ⚠️ No drug coverage
- ⚠️ Hospital coinsurance after 60 days
- ⚠️ No annual out-of-pocket limit
People Who Got It Right at 65
"I was completely overwhelmed by Medicare. Rodney broke it down in plain language and helped me understand what I was actually choosing. I enrolled before my deadline and couldn't be happier."
"I didn't realize that staying on my husband's employer plan meant I still had to do something about Medicare. Rodney helped me sort through everything and avoid a penalty I didn't even know was coming."
"My employer gave me a packet about Medicare that made my head spin. One conversation with Rodney and I had a clear plan. Free call, no pressure, and now my coverage is locked in."
Frequently Asked Questions
The IEP is the 7-month window centered on your 65th birthday when you can first enroll in Medicare. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after. This is your primary opportunity to enroll without penalty.
It depends. If you work for a company with 20+ employees, your employer plan is typically "primary" and you may be able to delay Medicare Part B without penalty. But you should still enroll in Part A (it's usually free). Different rules apply to small employers. This is exactly the kind of situation we review in your free call — it's too important to guess on.
If you miss the IEP without creditable coverage, you'll face two problems: (1) a permanent 10% surcharge on Part B premiums for every 12-month period you delayed, and (2) you'll be restricted to the General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31), with coverage not starting until July 1. That's a potentially long coverage gap with lifetime premium increases.
It depends on your health, preferred doctors, budget, and how often you travel. Advantage plans typically have lower premiums but come with networks. Supplements have higher premiums but more freedom. We'll compare both based on your specific situation — not generic advice.
Nothing. Insurance carriers pay licensed agents a commission when you enroll. Your premium is the same whether you work with me or enroll directly — but you get expert guidance, plan comparison, and ongoing support at no charge to you.
Many of my clients are turning 65 and still working full-time. This is actually the most complex Medicare situation — and the one where mistakes are most costly. We'll review your employer coverage, determine what you need to do, and make sure you don't trigger any accidental penalties.
Get Your Free Medicare Enrollment Guide 2026
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Don't Let a Missed Deadline
Cost You For Life
Enrollment penalties are permanent. Coverage gaps are expensive. One 30-minute call can prevent both — and it won't cost you a dime.
📞 Prefer to call? 503-832-8555Free consultation. No pressure. No obligation. Carrier-neutral guidance from an independent advisor.