If you’re a part of the 70%, one of the best ways to start understanding your Medicare coverage better is to understand your eligibility and enrollment. Otherwise, you may miss prime opportunities to improve your health insurance. Medicare lists 3 main factors of eligibility for Part A:

• You are age 65 or older and a U.S. citizen (or permanent legal resident)
• You are disabled and have received Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months
• You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease)

If you are not yet 65, the best time to enroll is the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This begins 3 months before your birthday, the month of, and 3 months after. During the IEP, you can not only enroll in Part A and Part B (Original Medicare), but other coverage as well, including Medicare Advantage (Part C) and/or Part D.

If you are over 65 and missed your IEP, you can still enroll during the General Enrollment Period (GEP) which takes place annually from January 1st through March 31st. You may experience late enrollment fees if you enroll during this period. You may also delay your enrollment if you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).