Getting started
Turning 65 in Austin, TX
Turning 65 starts a clock, whether you've lived in South Austin for decades or just moved to Round Rock to be near family. Medicare gives you seven months to act: three months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and three months after.
Apply in the three months before your birthday month and coverage starts the first of your birthday month. Wait, and your start date slips. That's why it pays to open this conversation around 64 and a half, not the week of the party.
- A 7-month window built around your birthday
- Different rules if you're still on the job
- One guaranteed shot at a Medigap plan
- Free, local, no-pressure guidance
Your dates
Turning 65 enrollment calculator
Find your Medicare enrollment window
Enter your date of birth. You'll get your Initial Enrollment Period, the month to apply, when coverage could begin, and what to check if you're still working. From there, our team can walk through the timeline with you.
Your Medicare enrollment timeline
- Initial Enrollment Period
- Month to apply
- Coverage could begin
- You turn 65
Check your employer coverage first
Still working, or covered by a spouse's employer plan? If that employer has 20 or more employees, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty. Under 20 employees, Medicare typically pays first at 65, and waiting can leave you underinsured. An HSA contribution changes the math again. Check with HR before you decide, or ask a licensed agent to walk through it with you.
Next step:
This is an estimate based on standard Medicare rules and your date of birth. It is not an official determination. Confirm your dates with Social Security or Medicare.gov.
Timeline
What to handle, and by when
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1
3 to 6 months before your birthday
Decide whether to start Part B now or hold off because of active employer coverage. Start pulling together your doctor list and prescriptions.
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2
3 months before
Enroll in Part A and Part B through Social Security if you haven't already. If you're drawing benefits, your card shows up automatically.
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3
2 months before
Pick your route: Original Medicare paired with a Medigap plan and Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Double check which plans include your doctors near Westshore or wherever you get care.
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4
1 month before
Get the paperwork in so your cards arrive before coverage starts. Make sure nothing from your old plan lapses in the gap.
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5
After your birthday
A six-month Medigap window opens once Part B starts. Use it. It's the one stretch where your health history doesn't factor into the price.
Still working?
An employer plan changes the timeline
If you or your spouse are still working and the group plan covers 20 or more employees, you can typically delay Part B without a penalty and stay on that coverage. Most people still sign up for Part A since it's usually free, unless you're putting money into an HSA, in which case any part of Medicare shuts that off.
Once employment ends, an eight-month window opens for Part B. COBRA and retiree coverage don't extend it, no matter what the paperwork implies. Guessing wrong here is one of the costliest Medicare mistakes you can make, and you can run the numbers yourself with our Part B penalty calculator.
Small employers work differently
If your employer has fewer than 20 workers, Medicare usually becomes your main coverage at 65, and putting off Part B can leave real gaps. Check with HR before you decide anything.
Choosing
Two paths, one decision
- Original Medicare, Medigap and Part D: nearly any doctor who accepts Medicare, a higher monthly cost, very few surprises
- Medicare Advantage: lower premium, a defined network, copays as you go, often includes dental and vision
- Both still require your monthly Part B premium
- An independent local agent can lay both out side by side at no cost to you
Read more about Medigap, Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans, or start with the Medicare checklist. If you miss your first window, the Annual Open Enrollment period runs October 15 to December 7 each year.
Close to home
Turning 65 across the Austin area
We help new enrollees across Travis, Williamson and Hays counties, from Cedar Park and Pflugerville to Georgetown and Kyle. Your doctors decide a lot here. Austin-area care runs largely through St. David's, Ascension Seton and Baylor Scott & White, and Medicare Advantage networks don't always include all of them. Veterans who use VA clinics should check how VA care fits with Medicare before choosing a plan. Find your town on our service areas page. For free, unbiased counseling, Texas's Texas HICAP program (Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program) takes calls at 1-800-252-9240.
Get your enrollment timeline reviewed
Our team will confirm your dates, check whether your employer coverage lets you safely delay Part B, and walk through both coverage paths. No cost, no obligation to enroll.
What to expect
Free review- A licensed agent calls you back during business hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT
- Your doctors and prescriptions get checked before any plan is suggested
- No fee for our help, and your premium is the same either way
- No obligation to enroll, and no pressure if you'd rather stay put
Reviewed by the licensed Texas agents at Austin Senior Insurance. Last reviewed: October 2026. Office hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT.
Thanks, we have your request.
A licensed agent will call you during business hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT. If you'd rather not wait, call 737-236-2017 now.
Common questions
Turning 65 questions in Austin
When is my Initial Enrollment Period?
Will I be enrolled automatically?
Can I delay Part B if I'm still working?
What does Part B cost in 2026?
When is my Medigap open enrollment period?
Where can I get free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Texas?
Turning 65 this year?
We'll confirm your dates, check your doctors, and lay out both paths. Free, with no obligation to enroll.