Medicare 2026

First Medicare deadlines to know in Mercer Island

MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — If you're approaching your 65th birthday on Mercer Island, the clock is already ticking on one of the most important deadlines in your Medicare journey: the Initial Enrollment Period. Miss it, and you could face lifelong penalties and a gap in coverage. Hit it, and you set yourself up for a smoother ride through the rest of the program.

Here's what you need to know about signing up the right way, the first time.

What the Initial Enrollment Period actually is

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is your personal 7-month window to sign up for Medicare when you first become eligible at 65. It includes:

• The 3 months before the month you turn 65
• The month you turn 65
• The 3 months after the month you turn 65

So if your birthday is in June, your IEP runs from March 1 through September 30. This is different from the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), which is for people already on Medicare who want to change plans.

When does coverage actually start?

Timing matters. If you enroll during the 3 months before your birthday month, your Medicare coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month. If you wait until your birthday month or the 3 months after, your coverage start date will be pushed back — typically to the first day of the month after you sign up.

For many people, the goal is a clean handoff from an employer plan or individual insurance to Medicare, with no gap. That's why signing up early in your window is often the safer move.

The mistake that costs the most: skipping Part B without a good reason

One of the most common — and most expensive — mistakes new enrollees make is putting off Part B (which covers doctor visits and outpatient care) without having other "creditable" coverage, like an active employer group health plan based on current employment.

If you delay Part B without qualifying coverage, you can be charged a late enrollment penalty of 10% for every 12 months you were eligible but didn't sign up. That penalty is added to your Part B premium for as long as you have Medicare. It doesn't go away.

The same idea applies to Part D prescription drug coverage. Skip it without creditable drug coverage from another source, and you'll owe a smaller monthly penalty — but again, it lasts a lifetime.

Are you enrolled automatically, or do you have to act?

It depends. If you're already receiving Social Security benefits before you turn 65, you'll usually be enrolled automatically in Part A and Part B, and your card will arrive in the mail about three months before your birthday.

If you're not taking Social Security yet — which is increasingly common as people work longer — you have to sign yourself up. You can do that online at SSA.gov, by calling Social Security, or in person at a Social Security office. Don't assume it will happen for you.

First steps for Mercer Island residents

Mercer Island is in King County, where retirees have a wide range of choices for how to receive their Medicare benefits — including Original Medicare (Parts A and B) paired with a standalone Part D drug plan, and Medicare Advantage plans offered by private insurers. King County has a broad menu of Advantage and drug plans available, which is helpful, but also means comparing options carefully pays off.

Here's a simple first-steps checklist:

1. Mark your 7-month window on the calendar — and aim to enroll in the first 3 months. 2. Check your current coverage. If you're on an employer plan, ask your HR department whether it's considered creditable for Medicare purposes. 3. Decide the path that fits your life — Original Medicare with a drug plan (and possibly a Medigap policy), or a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles benefits. 4. Look at your prescriptions. In 2026, Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap and a maximum deductible of $615. The old "donut hole" was eliminated in 2025, and an optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year. 5. Know the income rules. Higher earners pay IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D; in 2026, these begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to rely on a sales pitch. Washington state's SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) program — the state's SHIP — offers free, one-on-one counseling from trained volunteers who don't sell insurance. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) any time, or visit Medicare.gov to compare plans available in King County using your ZIP code and medication list.