Original Medicare

Explore Your Medicare Options with Guidance from Schwenker Senior Insurance

What You Need to Know

Who qualifies for Medicare?

Most people qualify for Medicare when they turn 65. You may also qualify earlier if you have a qualifying disability or a serious medical condition like End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

When and how do I enroll?

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is your first chance to sign up for Medicare. It’s a 7-month window that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after.


If you’re already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you’ll be enrolled automatically in both Part A and Part B. If not, you can sign up online at SSA.gov, over the phone, or at your local Social Security office.

A man and a woman are standing next to each other in a yoga pose.

Key Medicare Enrollment Periods – Timeline Overview:

(Use this as a reference guide for timing your decisions)

IEP (Initial Enrollment Period)


  • 7-month window around your 65th birthday


  • Sign up for Medicare Part A and B, and choose how you want to get your coverage


ICEP (Initial Coverage Election Period)


  • First chance to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan


  • Typically same as IEP unless you delay Part B


SEP (Special Enrollment Period)


  • Triggered by certain life events like losing employer coverage, moving, or retiring after 65


GEP (General Enrollment Period)


  • January 1 – March 31 (each year)


  • For those who missed IEP and don’t qualify for a SEP


  • Coverage begins July 1


AEP (Annual Enrollment Period)


  • October 15 – December 7


  • Switch or join a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan


  • Changes take effect January 1


OEP (Open Enrollment for Medicare Advantage)


  • January 1 – March 31


  • If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch or return to Original Medicare

What does Medicare cover?

Medicare is made up of two main parts:

Part A – Hospital Insurance


  • Inpatient hospital stays


  • Skilled nursing facility care (after a hospital stay)


  • Hospice care


  • Some limited home health care


Part B – Medical Insurance


  • Doctor visits and outpatient care


  • Preventive services (like screenings and flu shots)



  • Lab tests, X-rays, and durable medical equipment (like walkers or oxygen)

Is Medicare free?

  • Part A is usually premium-free if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.


  • Part B has a monthly premium (most people pay this from their Social Security benefits). In 2025, the standard Part B premium is [insert current amount if desired].

What Medicare doesn’t cover:

Original Medicare doesn’t pay for everything. You’re responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. It also doesn’t cover:

  • Most prescription drugs


  • Dental, vision, and hearing care


  • Long-term care (like nursing home stays)


That’s why many people add extra coverage — either a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) or a Medicare Advantage Plan — to help with costs and coverage gaps.

What are my options for extra coverage?

Once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you can choose how to manage your health care:

1. Stay on Original Medicare and add:


  • A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to help pay deductibles and coinsurance


  • A Part D prescription drug plan for medications

2. Join a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C):


  • Combines Part A and Part B


  • Usually includes drug coverage (Part D)



  • Often adds extras like dental, vision, hearing, and wellness benefits