Key steps and considerations for navigating Medicare when you first become eligible.
Know when you are eligible for Medicare. If you don't enroll within the window of your initial enrollment period, you may miss an opportunity to add coverage and may have to pay a late enrollment penalty down the road.
When you first enroll in Medicare, you have the right to select any plan you want, regardless of your health — that window is precious.
When looking at plan options, gather key information: your doctors' names, medication dosages, and other health-related details. Confirm that your doctors accept your coverage choice, that your medications are covered, and that you understand the associated costs.
Consider your future insurability carefully. When you first enroll in Medicare, you have the right to select any plan regardless of your health. It is important to consider both your current situation and what would matter to you in the future. Switching certain plans later may require underwriting, and pre-existing condition exclusions or becoming uninsurable could limit your options. How much you spent on healthcare last year can also guide which plan type is most suitable based on your usage.
