Check if you have a qualifying life event
Select any events that apply to you in the last 3 months — if you check one or more, you likely qualify for a Special Enrollment Period right now.
✅ You likely qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. You can change or enroll in a Medicare plan right now — don't wait.
Find My Plan in Clark County →📅 You may not currently have a qualifying event. The next open window is the Annual Enrollment Period: October 15–December 7. If you're unsure, a free consultation with Sarina can confirm your options — some SEP triggers aren't listed here.
Most SEPs give you a 2-month window from the date of the event. Don't wait — windows close fast.
Moving to a New Area
Moving to Las Vegas, Henderson, or anywhere outside your current plan's service area. Applies when relocating from another state or county.
2-month SEP windowLosing Employer Coverage
Retiring, being laid off, or losing health coverage through a spouse's job. Common post-retirement scenario in Clark County.
8-week SEP windowTurning 65
Your Initial Enrollment Period opens 3 months before your birthday. Missing it means potential permanent late penalties — don't skip it.
7-month IEP windowMedicaid / Extra Help
Gaining or losing Nevada Medicaid (DHHS) or Low Income Subsidy (Extra Help) eligibility. Triggers a continuous, ongoing SEP.
Continuous SEPPlan Termination
Your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is ending or leaving your service area. You'll receive a notice and have a window to choose a new plan.
2-month SEP windowSNAP / SSI Benefits
Starting or stopping SNAP food assistance or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may qualify you for a SEP and potentially Extra Help with drug costs.
Varies by eventHad a qualifying event? Start here.
Enter your ZIP code and see every Medicare plan available in Clark County — including $0 premium options.
New to Las Vegas? You likely qualify for a SEP.
Clark County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. Thousands of retirees move to Las Vegas and Henderson every year from states like California, Illinois, New York, and Arizona — and most of them arrive with an out-of-state Medicare Advantage plan that no longer works in Nevada.
Moving to a new Medicare service area gives you a 2-month SEP window from the month you notify Medicare of your new address. During that window, you can compare and enroll in any of the 40+ Medicare Advantage plans available in Clark County — many of which carry $0 monthly premiums.
If you've moved to Las Vegas in the last 3 months and haven't updated your plan yet, you may still be in your SEP window. Check plans available at your new Las Vegas ZIP code →
Retiring and losing employer coverage
Retiring is one of the most common SEP scenarios. If you had employer-sponsored health coverage through your job (or your spouse's job), you may have deferred Medicare enrollment — which is allowed while you have "creditable coverage." But once that coverage ends, the clock starts.
You have 8 weeks (about 2 months) from when your employer coverage ends to enroll in Medicare Part B (if you haven't yet) and to choose a Medicare Advantage plan or standalone Part D drug coverage. Miss this window and you could face:
- A permanent late enrollment penalty on your Part B premium (10% per year delayed)
- Gaps in coverage until the next Annual Enrollment Period
- Loss of guaranteed issue rights for Medigap supplement plans
If you're within 3 months of retirement, contact Sarina now — she can help you plan the transition before the SEP window opens.
Nevada Medicaid (DHHS) changes & dual-eligible plans
If you qualify for both Medicare and Nevada Medicaid (administered by the state DHHS), you're considered "dual eligible." This triggers a continuous Special Enrollment Period — you can change your Medicare plan once per month, any time of year.
More importantly, Clark County carriers offer Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) specifically designed for dual-eligible beneficiaries. These plans often include extra benefits beyond standard Medicare Advantage — including meal delivery after hospitalization, transportation to medical appointments, over-the-counter drug allowances, and dental and vision coverage.
If you recently started receiving Nevada Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI, or if your income has changed significantly, you may qualify. Contact Sarina to check your eligibility →
Confirm your qualifying event
Document the date of the event (move date, job loss date, Medicaid approval date). You'll need this for enrollment. Use the checklist above if you're unsure.
Update your address with Medicare (if moving)
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or log in to Medicare.gov to update your address. This officially starts your SEP window for a move.
Compare plans in your new ZIP code
Use MediPilot to see every Medicare Advantage plan available in Clark County, ranked by how well they match your doctors, prescriptions, and budget.
Enroll before your SEP window closes
Most SEP windows are 2 months. Don't wait. Enroll online at the plan's website, call the plan directly, or have a broker like Sarina handle the paperwork for you — at no cost to you.
Confirm your new coverage start date
New coverage typically starts the first day of the month after your enrollment is processed. Keep your old plan active until your new coverage starts — don't let there be a gap.
Not sure which plan to pick?
MediPilot checks your specific doctors and prescriptions against every Clark County plan — free, no phone call needed.
What is a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP)?
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a time window outside the standard enrollment periods during which you're allowed to join, switch, or drop a Medicare plan. SEPs are triggered by specific qualifying life events — moving, losing other coverage, or changes in your eligibility for assistance programs.
Without a qualifying event, you generally have to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) — October 15 through December 7 — to make changes. SEPs exist to prevent people from being stuck in an unsuitable plan after a major life change.
How long does a Special Enrollment Period last?
It depends on the type of event:
- Moving — 2 months, starting the month you notify Medicare of your new address
- Losing employer coverage — 8 weeks (about 2 months) from when coverage ends
- Medicaid / Extra Help — Continuous (you can change plans once per month)
- Plan termination — 2 months from when your plan ends coverage
- Turning 65 (Initial Enrollment Period) — 7 months total (3 before + birthday month + 3 after)
Act as soon as possible. Waiting until the last week of your SEP leaves no room for processing delays or back-and-forth with insurers.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during a SEP?
Yes — most SEPs allow you to switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, or between Medicare Advantage plans. However, there's an important caveat for Medigap (supplement) coverage:
If you drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare outside of specific guaranteed issue periods, Nevada insurance carriers can medically underwrite you for Medigap coverage — meaning they can charge higher premiums or deny coverage based on your health history. The exception: if your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving your area, you have guaranteed issue rights for Medigap.
This is one reason it's worth talking to a broker before switching back to Original Medicare. Contact Sarina to review your options before you make a move.
What if I miss my SEP window?
If your SEP window closes and you didn't enroll or switch, you'll generally need to wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) to make changes. Your new plan would take effect January 1.
If you believe you had a qualifying event but missed your SEP, it's worth calling 1-800-MEDICARE and explaining your situation. In some cases, Medicare will grant a retroactive SEP if there was a legitimate reason for missing the window (like a plan not notifying you of termination in time).
Don't let this happen to you. If you've had a qualifying event, act now. Use the checklist above, or call Sarina directly — she handles these enrollments daily and knows the deadlines cold.
I'm turning 65 soon. Is that a SEP?
Technically, no — turning 65 triggers your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), not a SEP. But it functions very similarly: you have a 7-month window to sign up for Medicare and choose a plan.
Your IEP starts 3 months before your birthday month. For example, if you turn 65 in June, your IEP runs March through September. Enrolling in the 3 months before your birthday gets your coverage starting the first day of your birthday month — the cleanest timing.
Critical: If you're still on employer coverage when you turn 65, you can delay enrollment — but you must be on an employer plan that counts as "creditable coverage." Once that ends, you have a limited window. Start planning 6 months before your 65th birthday, not after. Contact Sarina — she does new-to-Medicare consultations at no charge.
Do I need to pay a broker to help with a SEP enrollment?
No — Medicare brokers are always free to you. Brokers like Sarina are compensated by the insurance carriers, not by clients. There is never a fee, a commission charged to you, or any financial obligation for using a broker.
A good broker can save you significant money by identifying the right plan, checking your doctors are in-network, and making sure your prescriptions are covered. The alternative — picking a plan blindly or through a carrier's sales rep who can only sell their own plans — often results in higher costs and coverage gaps.
Book a free consultation with Sarina → She handles Clark County SEP enrollments regularly and knows the local market well.
Qualify for a SEP? Find your plan now.
Use MediPilot to check every plan available in your Las Vegas ZIP code — matched to your doctors, prescriptions, and budget. Or book a free call with Sarina, a licensed independent Medicare broker serving Clark County.
(702) 771-4600 — Sarina Janney, Broker/Owner · Mon–Fri 8 AM–4 PM