Medicare 2026

Why the Initial Enrollment Period matters for Minot Medicare

MINOT, N.D. — Turning 65 comes with a stack of mail, a lot of jargon, and one big question: what do I actually need to do about Medicare? The good news is that the timeline is clear, and the first steps are the same whether you live near Roosevelt Park, out toward the Air Force base, or on a farm outside town. Here's how to walk through your Initial Enrollment Period without missing anything important.

Turning 65 in Minot? Your first Medicare decisions, step by step

Your Initial Enrollment Period: a 7-month window

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7-month stretch built around your 65th birthday:

• The 3 months before your birthday month
• Your birthday month
• The 3 months after

If you sign up in the three months before you turn 65, your coverage generally starts the first day of your birthday month. Sign up during or after your birthday month, and coverage begins the first of the month after you enroll.

The takeaway: enrolling early in your window is usually the smoothest path, especially if you want coverage in place the day you turn 65.

Step 1: Decide about Part A and Part B

Medicare has two "original" pieces:

• Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice, and some home health. Most people get it premium-free because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.
• Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, and preventive services. Part B has a monthly premium.

If you're already getting Social Security when you turn 65, you'll typically be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. If you're not, you'll need to sign up yourself at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security.

Still working with employer coverage? You may be able to delay Part B without a late penalty. But the rules depend on the size of your employer and the type of plan, so double-check before turning anything down. A wrong guess here can mean lifetime penalties.

Step 2: Think about drug coverage (Part D)

Even if you don't take any prescriptions today, Medicare expects you to have "creditable" drug coverage once you're eligible. Going without it can trigger a permanent Part D late enrollment penalty.

A few key numbers worth knowing:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone as of 2025 — there are now three simpler phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big bills at the pharmacy counter.

Step 3: Choose your path — Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage

This is the fork in the road most people wrestle with.

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B) plus a stand-alone Part D drug plan. Many people also add a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy to help with deductibles and coinsurance.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) bundles Parts A, B, and usually D into one plan run by a private insurer, often with extra benefits like dental or vision.

Minot is in Ward County, where multiple Medicare Advantage and Part D plan options are available. Plan availability, networks, and pharmacy lists are set at the county level, so what's offered in Ward County may look different from what a relative in Bismarck or Grand Forks sees.

There is no single "right" answer. Original Medicare gives you nationwide access to any provider that accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans usually use networks but may include extras. Compare based on your doctors, your prescriptions, and how you like to get care — not on ads.

Step 4: Know the higher-income surcharge (IRMAA)

If your income is above certain levels, you'll pay a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums called IRMAA. For 2026, IRMAA starts above $109,000 in income for single filers (higher thresholds apply for married couples filing jointly). Social Security uses your tax return from two years ago to decide. If your income has dropped since then — say, because you retired — you can ask them to reconsider.

Step 5: Mark the calendar for later

Your IEP is a one-time event, but Medicare has other yearly windows:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. This is when anyone with Medicare can change Part D or Medicare Advantage plans for the following year.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another one or return to Original Medicare.

Reviewing your coverage every fall is a smart habit — plans change, and so do your prescriptions.