Medicare Enrollment Checklist

Medicare is a complex program, and signing up can be confusing.

As you gear up to enroll in Medicare, use this handy Medicare checklist to help you stay on top of enrollment and make the process a little easier.

Print out the following checklist and hang it on your refrigerator to remind yourself of all of the important deadlines.

Six Months Before You Turn 65:

Understand how Medicare works by reading the following the links on our Medicare checklist.

• Read about Part A

• Read about Part B

• Read about Medicare Advantage (Part C)

• Read about Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)

• Read about Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)

• Check your eligibility to find out if you are eligible for Medicare

• How much do you pay for medicare part B and determine if your (or your spouse’s) work history qualifies you for premium-free Part A.

• Read about Part A and Part B enrollment and determine whether you’ll get Medicare automatically or need to sign up manually.

• Learn about Medicare coverage of common procedures

Three Months Before You Turn 65:

Enroll in Medicare.

• Enroll in Original Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes your birthday month and extends three months after your 65th birthday

• Apply for Medicare online through the Social Security Administration

• Apply for Medicare by phone by calling 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 7AM to 7PM

• Apply for Medicare in person by visiting your local Social Security office

• When you apply for Medicare, make sure you have the following information ready:

  • Date and place of birth

  • Medicaid number and Medicaid start/end dates (if applicable)

  • Current health insurance information

• After you enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Medicare Part D) and/or a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan

You can compare Part D plans available where you live and enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan online when you visit MyRxPlans.com.

Make sure you sign up on time. This is the most important part of signing up, because if you delay enrollment for too long, you could end up paying a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare.

After You Enroll in Medicare:

Pull together resources that can help guide you from enrollment to next steps.

• Find area-specific information through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), a free counseling service

• Visit the Medicare.gov website to view or print the Medicare & You 2024 Handbook for information on everything Medicare-related

If you need help covering some of your Medicare out-of-pocket costs, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) can help.

To enroll in Medigap, call today to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help match you to a plan that makes sense for you.