Speak with an experienced advisor! 405-256-4669Medicare comes with a lot of forms, phone numbers, and deadlines. This page gathers the ones my clients ask about most, all in one place. Everything listed here is free. Most of these resources are official government programs, and none of them require you to work with me.
If you’d rather talk it through, call me at 405-256-4669.
Key Medicare dates
Different parts of Medicare have different sign-up windows, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes people make.
| Window | When | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months around your 65th birthday: 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after | Signing up for Medicare Part A and Part B for the first time. |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | 6 months, starting the month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B | Buying any Medicare Supplement plan with no health questions. This happens only once, so don’t miss it. |
| Part B Special Enrollment Period | 8 months after your job or employer health coverage ends, whichever comes first | Signing up for Part B without a penalty if you delayed it because you had coverage through current employment. |
| General Enrollment Period | January 1 to March 31 each year | Signing up for Part A or Part B if you missed your other windows. A late penalty may apply. |
| Fall Open Enrollment | October 15 to December 7 each year | Changing Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans. This window does not apply to Medicare Supplement plans. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 to March 31 each year | For people already in a Medicare Advantage plan: switching to another Advantage plan, or returning to Original Medicare. |
| Oklahoma birthday window | 60 days, starting on your birthday, every year | Switching to a Medicare Supplement plan with the same or fewer benefits, with no health questions. Learn more. |
| Any time of year | Year-round | Applying to change Medicare Supplement plans. Outside your Medigap Open Enrollment and birthday window, you’ll usually answer health questions. |
Official Medicare and Social Security help
| Resource | What it’s for | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | Official Medicare information, the Medicare Plan Finder, and your Medicare account | Medicare.gov 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) TTY: 1-877-486-2048 |
| Social Security | Applying for Medicare, replacing a Medicare card, and questions about Part B premiums | SSA.gov 1-800-772-1213 TTY: 1-800-325-0778 Find your local office |
| Medicare & You handbook | Medicare’s official yearly guide, mailed to every Medicare household each fall | Read or download it |
| Choosing a Medigap Policy | The official government guide to Medicare Supplement plans | Download the guide (PDF) |
Forms you may need
| Form | When you need it | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| CMS-40B Application for Enrollment in Part B |
Signing up for Part B when you already have Part A, such as after retiring from a job with health coverage | Medicare’s enrollment forms page Submit both forms together to Social Security. |
| CMS-L564 Request for Employment Information |
Proving you had health coverage through current employment, so you can sign up for Part B late without a penalty. Your employer fills out part of it. | |
| SSA-44 IRMAA Life-Changing Event |
Asking Social Security to lower an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on your Part B or Part D premium after your income drops, such as after retirement or the death of a spouse | Download Form SSA-44 (PDF) |
Oklahoma resources
| Resource | What it’s for | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) | Free, unbiased Medicare counseling from Oklahoma’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). MAP also runs Oklahoma’s Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps people spot and report Medicare fraud. | MAP website 1-800-763-2828 Out of state: 405-521-6628 |
| Oklahoma Insurance Department | Consumer help, filing a complaint, and verifying that an insurance agent is licensed | OID.ok.gov Toll free: 800-522-0071 OKC: 405-521-2828 Tulsa: 918-295-3700 |
| Medicare Savings Programs (SoonerCare Supplemental) | Help paying Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and coinsurance, for people with limited income and resources | SoonerCare Supplemental How to apply through OKDHS |
| Extra Help | Help paying Part D prescription drug costs for people with limited income and resources. You can apply any time of year. | Apply through Social Security 1-800-772-1213 |
Protect yourself from Medicare fraud
Medicare scams are common, especially during the fall enrollment season. Be cautious if someone:
- Calls you out of the blue asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information.
- Claims to be “from Medicare” and offers a new card, a refund, or free benefits.
- Offers free gifts, groceries, or medical equipment in exchange for your Medicare number.
- Pressures you to decide right away.
Treat your Medicare number like a credit card number, and review your Medicare statements for services you didn’t receive. If something seems wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE, report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General, or call Oklahoma’s Senior Medicare Patrol through MAP at 1-800-763-2828.
Before you call: what to have ready
Whether you’re calling me, Medicare, or a MAP counselor, having these on hand makes the conversation faster and the answers more accurate:
- Your red, white, and blue Medicare card
- A list of your prescriptions, with the dose and how often you take each one
- Your doctors and your preferred pharmacy
- Your current Medicare Supplement, Advantage, or drug plan, and what you pay for it
- Any recent rate increase letters from your insurance company
- Information about any employer or retiree coverage you or your spouse have
Guides on this site
- The Oklahoma Medigap Birthday Rule
- Plan G vs. Plan N
- Medicare Supplement Plan F: Can You Keep It or Still Buy It?
- 2026 Medicare costs (on the homepage)
Phone numbers and links were verified in September 2026. If you find one that no longer works, please let me know. okcmedicare.com is privately owned and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or the State of Oklahoma.