Turning 65? We've got you covered.

• Learn about Medicare and the different types of plans. Start here.
• Make a list of your regular doctors and prescription drugs to make it easy for you to compare plans.
• If you currently have coverage through an employer, ask if they offer coverage options for people 65 and older.
• 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?
  • Knowing these details will make it easier to find the right plan when you are ready to enroll.
• Compare different Medicare plans to find the coverage and premiums that work best for you.
  • 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.
• Determine which options are best for you.

Now’s the time to choose your plan.

• Time to enroll. You can start enrolling in Medicare starting three months before the month of your birthday.
• To enroll in Part A and Part B, contact the  Social Security Administration.
• Ready to enroll in a Mass General Brigham Health Plan Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan? Get started today.

 

If you haven’t already done so, you should compare plans to determine which best meets your needs or request a Benefit Kit.

You can now take advantage of Medicare benefits. If you already enrolled in Medicare, it becomes effective now.

If you are still shopping for an individual Medicare plan, you only have three more months to do so. Have questions? Mass General Brigham Health Plan is here to help. 

You must be enrolled in Part A, B and D (or creditable coverage) by now to avoid paying late enrollment penalties.

You can change plans once a year. If the Medicare plan you chose is not meeting your needs, you can change plans, typically in the fall, during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).

• Find out if you need to enroll in Part B to avoid penalties—it may be necessary if your employer has fewer than 20 employees.
• Ask your employer if your plan’s prescription drug coverage is as good as Medicare’s coverage (it’s called “creditable coverage”). If not, enroll in Part D to avoid penalties.

• Talk to your employer to see if there are other options or plans available to people 65 and older.
• Enroll in Parts A and B once you’re eligible.
• Consider Part C (Medicare Advantage) or supplemental plans for additional coverage. Medicare Advantage plans often feature no deductibles on medical services and offer benefits that go above and beyond Part A and Part B coverage.
• Sign up for Part D prescription drug coverage. Many Medicare Advantage plans are offered with Part D drug coverage included.

• For all other qualified health plans, you will need to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B and have a prescription drug coverage that’s as good as Medicare’s standard plan (or enroll in Part D) to avoid penalties. A Medicare Advantage plan is a great way to get all the parts of Medicare in one plan. If you choose to keep your current coverage once you turn 65, you will lose any premium tax credits or other savings you are currently receiving. Since you will still need to enroll in Medicare Part A and B, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a better alternative.
• If you have an Essential Plan, your plan will end at age 65 and you will need to enroll in Medicare for health coverage.