Turning 65 comes with one of the biggest coverage decisions of your life, and a deadline. Here's a clear checklist so nothing falls through the cracks.
About 3 months before your birthday
- Decide whether to enroll in Part A and Part B now, or delay because you still have qualifying employer coverage.
- Make a list of your current doctors and the pharmacies you use.
- Write down every prescription you take, including the dose, so any plan can be priced accurately.
- Think about how you like to get care: staying with specific doctors, traveling often, or keeping costs predictable.
Choose your coverage path
There are two main roads. You can choose Original Medicare and add a Medicare Supplement plus a Part D drug plan, or you can choose an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan. Neither is 'better', they fit different lives. We compare both against your list so the choice is obvious.
Don't miss your enrollment window
Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long: the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Missing it can mean a lifelong late-enrollment penalty on Part B and Part D, so timing matters.
This guide is general education, not personal advice, and plan details and figures change. For complete information on all your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE. Legend Insurance Solutions is not connected with or endorsed by the government or the federal Medicare program.