65+: Know what to do when
Know what to do when
As soon as you know when you are going to retire or no longer receive your current coverage, you should start gathering information to make sure you get the coverage you need
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Before you retire
- Learn about Medicare and the different types of plans. Start here.
- Talk to your employer about any plans offered to retirees.
- Make a list of your regular doctors and prescription drugs to make it easy for you to compare plans.
- Get a picture of your health care history. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What did you pay in the past year? Look at your TOTAL costs, including premiums, deductibles, copays and coinsurance.
- How many times did you go to the doctor?
- How many hospital stays did you have?
- Do you plan on traveling?
- Compare different Medicare plans to find the coverage and premiums that work best for you.
- TIP: When comparing plans, be sure to look at the maximum amount of costs you could incur, or the out-of-pocket maximum.
- See if your doctors are covered.
- See if your prescriptions are covered.
- Compare our Medicare Advantage plans online.
- Find out about any extra benefits, such as fitness programs, hearing aid discounts and more.
- Arrange a personal consultation with a Medicare Advisor.
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When you retire
- Time to enroll. You can enroll in Medicare up to two months after your coverage ends.
- If you haven’t yet enrolled in Part A and Part B, contact the Social Security Administration.
- To enroll in Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D, contact a Medicare Advisor.
- If you haven’t already done so, you should compare plans to determine which best meets your needs.
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Two months after you retire
- You must be enrolled in Part A, B and D (or creditable coverage) by now to avoid paying late enrollment penalties.
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Beyond two months after you retire
- Other than the Special Enrollment Period (up to two months after losing your coverage), you can enroll during the Annual Open Enrollment Period between October 15 and December 7 each year
Our Medicare Advisors are here to help.
Get expert guidance to help you understand your options, find the right plan and make sure your transition to your new plan goes smoothly.
Call 855-486-3097 (TTY 711)
October 1 – March 31, 8 AM-8 PM ET, Mon-SunApril 1 – September 30, 8 AM-8 PM ET, Mon-Fri