Medicare 2026

How the Medicare IEP works for Hartford residents

HARTFORD, Conn. — If you're approaching your 65th birthday, the calendar matters more than you might think. Medicare gives most people a one-time, seven-month stretch called the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) to sign up — and missing it can mean late penalties that follow you for years.

Aging into Medicare: the enrollment window you don't want to miss

Here's a plain-language guide to what the IEP is, when yours starts, and the first steps to take.

What the Initial Enrollment Period actually is

Your IEP is a seven-month window built around your 65th birthday. It includes:

• The three months before the month you turn 65,
• The month you turn 65, and
• The three months after.

So if your birthday is in June, your IEP runs from March 1 through September 30. Sign up in the three months before your birthday month, and your coverage generally starts the first day of your birthday month. Sign up later in the window, and coverage starts the month after you enroll, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (medicare.gov).

The pieces of Medicare you're signing up for

When you enroll, you're looking at a few parts:

• Part A (hospital insurance) — most people pay no premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.
• Part B (medical insurance) — covers doctor visits and outpatient care, and has a monthly premium.
• Part D (prescription drug coverage) — offered by private insurers approved by Medicare.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) — an alternative way to get Parts A and B (and usually D) bundled through a private plan.
• Medigap (Medicare Supplement) — helps cover out-of-pocket costs if you stay with Original Medicare.

You don't have to figure it all out at once, but you do need to decide whether to take Part B during your IEP unless you have qualifying coverage from a current employer.

Why the deadline really matters

Skipping enrollment when you're first eligible — without other creditable coverage — can trigger:

• A Part B late enrollment penalty that adds 10% to your premium for each 12-month period you could have had it, for as long as you have Part B.
• A Part D late enrollment penalty that gets added to your drug plan premium.

These penalties are usually permanent, which is why the IEP deserves a spot on your calendar.

Still working at 65? Read this carefully

If you (or your spouse) are still working and covered by a large employer's group health plan, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty using a Special Enrollment Period later. Rules vary depending on employer size and the type of coverage — including COBRA and retiree plans, which do not count as creditable for delaying Part B.

Before you make a decision, talk to your employer's benefits office and check with Medicare directly. In Connecticut, the free CHOICES program (the state's SHIP) offers unbiased, one-on-one help.

What Hartford-area residents should know about choices

Hartford is in Hartford County, where Medicare beneficiaries have a range of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans offered by multiple private carriers. Plan availability is set at the county level, so two neighbors in different towns could see the same menu of options — but someone across the state line might see something entirely different.

For 2026, some program-wide numbers are worth knowing as you compare:

• Part D out-of-pocket spending is capped at $2,100 for the year.
• The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• A new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• Higher-income enrollees may pay IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D; for a single filer in 2026, those surcharges start above $109,000 in income.

First steps to take right now

1. Mark your IEP dates. Count three months back from your birthday month and three months forward. 2. Create a My Social Security account at ssa.gov — that's where most people enroll in Medicare. 3. Check your current coverage. If you have employer insurance, ask HR whether it's "creditable" for Medicare purposes. 4. List your doctors and prescriptions. You'll need this when comparing drug and Advantage plans. 5. Get free, unbiased help. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or Connecticut's CHOICES program before you commit.