Free guide from our Lexington team
Turning 65 in South Carolina? Get Your Free Medicare Checklist
A 4-page, month-by-month guide that shows exactly when to sign up, how to avoid lifelong late penalties and what to have ready before you pick a plan. Written by Jennifer and Ben Mauldin, a family-owned independent agency in Lexington.
- Your personal dates for when your sign-up window opens and closes
- A timeline from a year out through your birthday month and beyond
- Working past 65? The rules for delaying Part B, HSAs and the forms you'll need
- Six costly mistakes we see most, and how to avoid each one
Your checklist is ready.
Thanks . Download it below, then fill in your dates on page 1 and put them on your calendar.
Download the Checklist (PDF)Next step: send us your doctors and prescriptions so we can compare options before we meet.
Start Your Medicare ReviewThe numbers every new Medicare enrollee should know
Your first sign-up window: the 3 months before your birthday month, that month and the 3 months after.
Added to your Part B premium for each full 12 months you sign up late, usually for life.
Your one-time window to buy a Medicare Supplement without answering health questions.
To sign up for Part B after job-based coverage ends, if you worked past 65.
Wondering whether you'd owe a penalty? Try our free Medicare penalty and IRMAA calculators.
Who this guide is for
Turning 65 in the next year
See every step in order, with the dates that matter for your birthday.
Working past 65
Learn when you can safely wait on Part B and what to do when the job or coverage ends.
Helping a parent
Share it with Mom or Dad, or keep it handy so you know what's coming and when.
Common questions
When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65?
For most people, the best time is the 3 months before your birthday month. Your coverage then starts the first day of your birthday month. If you're already getting Social Security, you're signed up for Parts A and B automatically.
Can I wait to sign up if I'm still working?
Usually yes, if you have health coverage through a current employer with 20 or more employees. You then have 8 months after the job or coverage ends to sign up for Part B without a penalty. COBRA and retiree coverage don't count. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually pays first, so you'll generally need Parts A and B at 65.
Does it cost anything to work with you?
No. Our help is free. Plan prices are set by the insurance companies, so you pay the same premium whether you enroll with us or on your own.
Rather talk it through?
We'll check your dates, compare your options side by side and help with the paperwork, in person in Lexington, by phone or by video.
Call Jennifer: 843-509-2462 Text Ben: 803-920-8827This guide is for general education. It is not an application and does not enroll you in any plan. Mauldin Insurance Group is a licensed independent agency in Lexington, SC and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
