Getting started
Turning 65 Near Denver, CO
Your 65th birthday starts the clock. Medicare hands you a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, the three months before your birthday month, the month itself, and three months after, to lock in Part A and Part B.
Sign up in the three months before your birthday and coverage kicks in on day one of your birthday month. Wait past that, and your start date slips. That's exactly why we tell Denver-area clients to start planning at 64 and a half.
- A 7-month window built around your birthday
- Different rules apply if you're still on the job
- One guaranteed shot at Medigap without health questions
- Free, local guidance with zero pressure
Your dates
Find your turning-65 enrollment window
Find your Medicare enrollment window
Punch in your date of birth. You'll get your Initial Enrollment Period, when to apply, your possible start date, and what to check if you're still working, then our team can go over it with you.
Timeline
What to handle, and when
- 1
3 to 6 months before your birthday
Decide if you'll start Part B now or hold off because of active employer coverage. Start pulling together your doctor and drug lists.
- 2
3 months before
Sign up for Part A and Part B through Social Security if you're not already collecting benefits. Already collecting? Your card shows up automatically.
- 3
2 months before
Pick your path: Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Double-check networks and drug tiers before deciding.
- 4
1 month before
Get the application in so cards arrive before your start date. Make sure nothing lapses from whatever coverage you have now.
- 5
After your birthday
Your six-month Medigap window opens once Part B starts. Use it, it's the only stretch where your health history won't matter.
Still working?
A job changes the math
If you or your spouse are still working and the employer plan covers 20 or more people, you can typically hold off on Part B without a penalty and keep your job-based coverage. Most people still take Part A since it's usually free, unless you're funding an HSA, in which case any part of Medicare shuts off HSA contributions.
Once that job ends, an eight-month Special Enrollment Period opens for Part B. COBRA and retiree coverage don't stretch that window. Guessing wrong here is the priciest mistake we see, and you can put a number on it with our Part B penalty calculator.
Small employers work differently
Under 20 employees, Medicare typically becomes your primary coverage at 65, and holding off on Part B can leave real gaps. Check with HR before making a call.
Choosing
Two paths from here
- Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D: any doctor who accepts Medicare, a higher premium, and predictable bills
- Medicare Advantage: lower premium, a network, copays as you go, and extras like dental and vision
- Both still require your monthly Part B premium
- You can compare both paths for free with an independent local agent
Read more on Medigap and Medicare Advantage, or work through our Medicare checklist first.
Get your enrollment timeline reviewed
Denver Senior Insurance will nail down your dates, tell you if your employer coverage lets you safely wait on Part B, and walk through both coverage paths. No cost, no obligation.
Denver Senior Insurance
Independent Medicare agency licensed in Colorado · Denver, CO
Licensing, background and carriers →- Independent Medicare agency licensed in Colorado
- Serving Denver since 2011
- AHIP Medicare certified agents, recertified every year
- No charge for our help
- In-person, phone and home visits
Written and checked by the licensed Colorado agents at Denver Senior Insurance. Last checked: July 2026.
Turning 65 this year?
We'll map your dates, check your doctors, and lay out both paths, free and with no obligation to enroll.