i'm turning 65. what do i need to do?

PART A - Hospital Insurance

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home health care. You may pay a premiums for Part A, but the amount can vary.

Part B - Medical Insurance

Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Based on your situation, there may be a late enrollment penalty if you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible. You may pay premiums for Part B, but the amount can vary.

Part C - Medicare Advantage

This brings all your health care coverage under one plan, managed by a private insurance company. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include drug coverage. Your premium may very depending on the plan your choose.

Part D - Prescription drug coverage

Sometimes called "Medigap". It helps pay for some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. It's sold by private insurance companies. You pay another monthly premium for a supplement plan, in addition to your premium for Parts A and B.

Turning 65 is a big deal in the world of health care

That’s because you have a seven-month window around your birthday – three months before, the month of your birthday, and three months after to sign up for Medicare.

This is called your Initial Enrollment Period, or IEP.

If you now have medical coverage through an employer or spouse:

Talk with your employer (if you’re still working, or your spouse’s employer) several months in advance to see if your current insurance will change at age 65.
Learn the Medicare basics. I'm happy to give you more information on the parts of Medicare, what they cover and how much you will pay.
Contact Social Security to make sure you know when you’re eligible to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B.
Enroll in Medicare Part A when you’re eligible. (You may choose to wait to enroll in Part B.)

If you're not covered through an employer or spouse:

Enroll in Medicare Part A before you turn 65 so you don’t have a lapse in coverage. (You may choose to wait to enroll in Part B.)
Look at options that give you more coverage than Original Medicare alone, like Medicare Advantage plans.
Check with your doctors to see if they accept different types of Medicare coverage.
Check your prescription drugs to see if they’re covered.

I can help:

If you would like more information on your Medicare options call 203-770-3539 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday - Friday.