Resources
Get Ready to Enroll in Medicare
Bad Medicare outcomes almost always start with a small gap: a prescription left off a list, a specialist nobody checked, an old employer letter that was never requested.
Run through this checklist before you shop for a plan. It takes about twenty minutes and it's the exact list we walk through with clients across Denver.
- What to pull together before you compare plans
- Dates you can't afford to miss
- Smart questions for any agent you talk to
Step 1
Round up your paperwork
- Your Medicare card, or your Social Security confirmation letter
- Your current insurance card and plan name, if you're already covered
- This fall's Annual Notice of Change letter, if your plan sent one
- A creditable coverage letter from an employer, TRICARE or the VA
- A rough household income figure, in case you qualify for Extra Help
Step 2
Write down what you actually use
Doctors and hospital system
Primary care, every specialist you see, and whether you lean toward UCHealth or Rose Medical Center.Every prescription
Exact drug name, dose, how often you take it, and your pharmacy. A phone photo of the bottles works fine.Care you expect coming up
A scheduled surgery, ongoing physical therapy or frequent labs should steer which plan makes sense.
Step 3
Mark your calendar
- Your 65th birthday and the 7-month window built around it
- The date Part B kicks in, since it opens your 6-month Medigap window
- October 15 through December 7 for Annual Open Enrollment
- January 1 through March 31 if you're already on Medicare Advantage
- Your last day of active employment, if you're putting off Part B
Not sure which window you're in?
New to Medicare? Read Turning 65. Already enrolled? See Switch Your Plan.
Step 4
Ask any agent these questions
A good independent agent answers these without stalling: Which carriers are you appointed to sell? Are my specific doctors in-network on this plan next year? What will each of my prescriptions actually cost under this plan's formulary? What's my full-year cost, not just the monthly premium? What's my path if I need to switch later?
Vague answers are a red flag. Keep shopping. You can read how we work or start with our FAQs.
Checklist finished? Let's talk plans.
Bring what you've gathered and we'll line up the Denver-area plans we carry side by side against your doctors and prescriptions.