What should I do before, during, and after my 65th birthday?

013 Months Before Your 65th Birthday

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before the month you turn 65. It runs through your birthday month and ends three months after it. That is seven months total. This is your main window to sign up for Part A and Part B.

First, check whether you are already getting Social Security benefits. If you are, you will usually be enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically. Your Medicare card should arrive in the mail. If you are not getting Social Security yet, you need to sign up yourself at ssa.gov, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.

02During Your Birthday Month

Your birthday month is the middle of your Initial Enrollment Period. If you signed up three months early, your coverage usually starts on the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up during your birthday month or later, your start date may be pushed back, which can leave a gap. Enrolling early avoids that.

If you chose Original Medicare, pick a Part D drug plan now. You need drug coverage to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty, even if you take no prescriptions today. Also look at Medigap. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B, and it lasts six months. During that window, you can buy any Medigap plan sold in your state regardless of health. After it closes, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting.

03After Your 65th Birthday

You still have three months after your birthday month in your Initial Enrollment Period. If you have not enrolled yet, do it now. Waiting past this window can mean late enrollment penalties for Part B and Part D, and you may have to wait for a General Enrollment Period.

Once your coverage starts, confirm it is active. Check at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Make sure your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan shows as active. Keep your enrollment confirmation letters.

Schedule a Welcome to Medicare preventive visit. This one time visit is covered in the first 12 months after your Part B coverage starts. It includes a review of your medical history, screenings, and a plan for preventive care.

04Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting too long to enroll is the biggest one. Even if you feel healthy, penalties are real and some last as long as you have Medicare.

Assuming COBRA or retiree coverage lets you delay Part B is another. In most cases, it does not. Only active employer coverage from a current job usually counts.

Skipping Part D because you take no drugs is a third. The penalty is calculated for every month you go without creditable drug coverage. A low cost Part D plan now protects you from that penalty later.

Forgetting the Medigap window is a fourth. That six month guaranteed issue window only comes once. If you miss it, getting Medigap later can be harder and more expensive.

05Getting Help

You do not have to figure this out alone. Your state Health Insurance Assistance Program, called SHIP, offers free, unbiased counseling. In North Carolina, it is called SHIIP. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or talk to a local licensed insurance agent.

Start early, check your deadlines, and compare options based on your own doctors and prescriptions. A little planning now saves a lot of trouble later.

This article is general information only. It is not personal advice or a recommendation about any specific plan.

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