Enrollment Information for People New to Medicare

I became newly eligible for Medicare in January 2024 but did not sign up for Medicare because I was incarcerated. Can I still sign up for Medicare?

There is a Special Enrollment Period that allows incarcerated individuals who become newly eligible for Medicare to enroll, and current Medicare beneficiaries who drop Medicare coverage while incarcerated to re-enroll in Medicare, starting the day they’re released and up to 12 months later.

While we have made every effort to provide accurate information in these FAQs, people should contact the health insurance Marketplace or Medicaid agency in their state for guidance on their specific circumstances.

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The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.