Overview

Most people enroll in Medicare when they turn 65, but the timing for signing up for coverage and changing plans isn't that simple. With an Initial Enrollment Period, Special Enrollment Periods, a General Enrollment Period, and many more, the options can be daunting. Plus, if you're still working at age 65 and beyond, you may want to wait to enroll. But if you don’t sign up on time, you may face penalties that can last for as long as you have Medicare.

    Benefit Period

    is the way the Original Medicare program measures your use of inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. It begins the day that you enter a hospital or SNF and ends when you have not received inpatient hospital or Medicare-covered skilled care in a SNF for 60 days in a row.
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