Sun City Hilton Head

Turning 65 in Sun City Hilton Head? Your Medicare Timeline

by

Skyler Abilla

Turning 65 in Sun City Hilton Head? Your Medicare Timeline

Moving to Sun City at 55 is common. Medicare starts at 65, and missing your window can cost you for life. Here is the timeline for Sun City residents.

Turning 65 in Sun City Hilton Head: Your Medicare Timeline

Turning 65 in Sun City Hilton Head? Your Medicare Timeline

Many people move to Sun City at 55 or 60, long before Medicare. Here is how to line up your enrollment so you do not pay a penalty.

55+
Age requirement to live in Sun City
65
Age most people become eligible for Medicare
7 months
Length of your Initial Enrollment Period

Your Initial Enrollment Period

Your Initial Enrollment Period is seven months long. It starts three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and runs three months after. Signing up before your birthday month usually means your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.

If you are still working

If you or your spouse are still working and have group health coverage through an employer, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. When that coverage or the job ends, you generally get an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Part B. Get it in writing from your employer's benefits office that the coverage counts.

If you are retired

If you have retiree coverage or COBRA, do not assume you can delay Part B. Those usually do not protect you from the late penalty. Ask before you turn 65.

The late penalty

If you miss your window, your Part B premium goes up 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had it and did not. You pay that for as long as you have Part B.

Choose your coverage

At 65 you decide between Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement and a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. The right choice depends on your doctors, your drugs, your budget, and how much you travel. Your options also depend on your county.

Talk to a local agent

Skyler Abilla is a licensed Medicare agent who lives near Sun City. Call (843) 284-6815 or book a free call. A good time to talk is about three months before your birthday.

The best time to start is three months before the month you turn 65. Starting early gives you time to compare plans without pressure.
Your Seven-Month Initial Enrollment Period
3 months before
2 months before
1 month before
Birthday month
1 month after
2 months after
3 months after
Sign up in the first three months for coverage that starts the first day of your birthday month.

Source: Medicare.gov enrollment rules; Sun City Hilton Head Community Association (55+ community).

A note on this data: Enrollment rules shown here are standard federal Medicare rules and can change. Your own situation, including employer coverage, may differ.

Abilla Advisors is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sun City Hilton Head, Del Webb, or the Sun City Community Association. The name is used only to describe the area we serve. This article is for educational purposes only. Abilla Advisors does not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). This content is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

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