Turning 65 Guide: A Medicare Checklist | Magnolia Family Insurance

3 months before your birthday month

This is when your Initial Enrollment Period generally opens, and when the decisions are easiest to make calmly.

Confirm whether you are enrolling in Part A and Part B now, or delaying Part B because you have active employer coverage.
Decide between Original Medicare paired with a Medicare Supplement, or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Review whether you need a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, or whether drug coverage is bundled in the plan you are considering.
Write down your current doctors, preferred hospital, and every medication you take — that list drives the entire comparison.

Applications submitted in this window are the ones most likely to line up cleanly with your coverage start date.

Submit your application for the coverage you selected, and keep a copy of the confirmation.
Confirm your Part B start date, especially if you delayed it because of employer coverage.
Check that your doctors and preferred hospital participate for the plan year that is beginning.
If you are leaving an employer plan, ask your employer or plan administrator for written confirmation of when that coverage ends.

The Initial Enrollment Period generally continues here, but waiting can affect your start date and, for drug coverage, your premium.

Verify your Medicare card and plan materials arrived and that the effective dates match what you expected.
Confirm your prescriptions are being filled at the cost tier you were shown, and flag anything that looks off.
Make sure you have creditable prescription drug coverage in place to avoid a lasting late enrollment penalty.
Set a reminder to review your plan each fall during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7.