Turning 65: Your 3-Month Medicare Checklist
Turning 65 means a lot of things, and one of them is a decision window for Medicare that most people don’t think about until it’s almost closed. The good news is that this window is generous: it runs seven months, centered on your birthday month. The better news is that three months out is exactly the right time to start.
You don’t need to have every decision made today. You need a plan for the next few months so nothing slips past a deadline. Here’s what that plan looks like.
Know your enrollment window
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare runs three months before your birthday month, includes your birthday month, and continues three months after: seven months total. Enrolling late can mean a gap in coverage and, in some cases, a permanent late-enrollment penalty on Part B or Part D.
If you’re still working and covered by an employer group health plan, the rules shift a bit, and the right move depends on the size of your employer and how that coverage coordinates with Medicare. That’s a conversation worth having before you assume you can wait.
Three months out: take stock
Start by gathering what you already have. Pull up your current health coverage, whether that’s an employer plan, a marketplace plan, or your spouse’s plan, and note what it costs and what it covers. You’ll want this for comparison.
Also confirm whether you’ll need to actively sign up for Medicare or whether you’re enrolled automatically. If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, enrollment in Part A and Part B is typically automatic. If not, you’ll need to apply through the Social Security Administration.
Two months out: understand your options
This is where most of the real decisions live. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) can be paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy and a standalone Part D prescription drug plan, or you can choose a Medicare Advantage plan that bundles hospital, medical, and often drug coverage into one plan through a private insurer.
- Medigap generally offers more flexibility to see any provider that accepts Medicare, for a higher monthly premium.
- Medicare Advantage often has a lower monthly cost but works through a defined network, similar to an HMO or PPO.
- Part D coverage matters even if you rarely take medications now; plans and formularies change every year.
There isn’t a universally ‘best’ choice here. The right fit depends on which doctors you want to keep seeing, which medications you take, and how much predictability you want in your monthly costs.
One month out: enroll and confirm
By now you should have a direction. Complete your enrollment, whether that’s through Social Security for Original Medicare, or with a licensed agent for a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan. Confirm your effective date in writing, and keep copies of everything.
Double check that any prescriptions you take are on your plan’s formulary and that your preferred doctors are in-network if you’ve chosen a plan with a network. A quick call before your effective date is far easier than untangling a problem after coverage starts.
You don't have to sort this out alone
Medicare has a lot of moving parts, and the choice you make now typically sets your coverage for the year ahead, with a chance to revisit it during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31) or the fall Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7).
LXV Advocates & Consulting helps Phoenix-area families walk through these decisions with no cost and no pressure. If you’re approaching 65 or helping a parent through it, call us at 623-244-7464 for a free plan review, or reach out through our contact page to get started.