About ten thousand people a day turn 65 in the United States, making them eligible for Medicare health insurance. If you are about to turn 65 you might want to know what being Medicare eligible means to you and how you can best prepare. The most important thing to be aware of is your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is the time period that most people apply to receive their Medicare benefits.  Your IEP begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday, includes your birth month, and carries on three months after, for a total of seven months.  If you don't apply during this time period you could face penalties later. If you already have health insurance coverage through your employer, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.  If you have credible health insurance through an employer you can delay your enrollment in Medicare Part B until your current employer's health insurance ends.  You should enroll in Medicare Part A anyway. Be sure you have all the … [Read more...]