Turning 65? Your Medicare Enrollment Checklist
Your 65th birthday is coming, and suddenly everyone's talking about Medicare. Here's the plain-English checklist I walk my own clients through — no jargon, no pressure.
1. Know your Initial Enrollment Period
You get a 7-month window around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Miss it without qualifying coverage, and you can face late-enrollment penalties that last for life. Put those dates on your calendar now.
2. Understand the parts: A, B, C, and D
- Part A (Hospital): Usually premium-free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years. Covers hospital stays.
- Part B (Medical): Has a monthly premium (set by the government each year). Covers doctor visits and outpatient care.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage): An alternative way to get your A and B benefits through a private plan — often with extras like dental and vision.
- Part D (Prescriptions): Standalone drug coverage. Even if you take nothing today, skipping it can mean a permanent penalty later.
3. Check your current coverage
Still working with employer coverage? You may be able to delay Part B without penalty — but the rules depend on your employer's size. COBRA and retiree plans don't count as coverage that lets you delay. This is the step where most people get tripped up, so don't guess.
4. Decide: Advantage or Supplement?
Original Medicare leaves gaps — deductibles, coinsurance, no cap on what you pay. Most people fill those gaps with either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plus a drug plan. Neither is "better" — it depends on your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and how you like your coverage to work.
5. Don't forget dental, vision, and hearing
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental, vision, or hearing. Some Advantage plans include them; otherwise, standalone dental and vision plans are worth a look.
6. Get a free review before you decide
Here's the part most people skip: talk to a licensed, independent broker before you enroll. It costs you nothing — brokers are paid by the insurance companies, not by you — and a 20-minute conversation can save you from penalties, wrong-plan headaches, and surprise bills.
Turning 65 in Tennessee or Georgia?
I'm Michael Reardon, an independent licensed broker. I'll walk through your options in plain English and help you get it right the first time — free.
Important disclosures. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent over 30 organizations which offer over 150 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.