Turning 65 Soon? Here's What You Need To Know About Medicare

The year was 1961, and John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States.

That April, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit the Earth, and earlier that year Walt Disney’s “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” opened in theaters.

If you were born that year or the next, your 65th birthday is coming up soon.

If you’re turning 65 in the next 12 months, you were among the more than 4 million babies born each year in America during the post-war Baby Boom. Boomers often get lumped together as one generic group, but each person’s story is unique, and so are their health needs.

What to consider before turning 65.

As you approach 65 and start to consider life without an alarm clock, you don’t want unexpected health care costs to erase all of your diligent financial planning. Now that you’re nearly eligible for Medicare, you need to start thinking about your insurance options – and how you’ll pay for health care that Medicare doesn’t cover.

Here’s a timeline of things to consider in the months leading up to your Medicare eligibility.

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12 Months

Happy 64th birthday! You’ll be eligible for Medicare in a year. Now’s the time to get answers to your questions about Medicare coverage.

Health Plans of NC’s licensed agents can check in with you over the coming year with reminders and tips, so you’re ready when your enrollment window opens. Call 800-797-0327 to get started at no cost.

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11 Months

That month flew by pretty quickly, didn’t it? Now you can start learning more about your enrollment period.

And get the basics behind how Medicare plans work.

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10 Months

As you learn more about Medicare, questions start to arise: What does Medicare Part A cover?

How can I figure out what my Part B costs will be? What is covered under Part B? How do Parts C and D work? How are they different from A and B?

Health Plans of NC’s licensed local agents can help you find answers to your questions at no cost.

You could also try the federal government’s Medicare website.

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9 Months

Perhaps the most common misconception about Medicare is that it pays for all health care costs. But it doesn’t.

You might want to explore a Medicare Supplemental Insurance policy – sometimes called a Medigap policy – to cover copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

Several insurance companies offer Medicare Supplement plans in North Carolina, and a licensed agent can help you compare them.

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8 Months

It’s time to start asking more detailed questions about a Medicare plan that works best for you.

• What are the Part D (prescription drug coverage) options that suit your budget?

• What kind of provider network do you want?

• What Medicare plans are available where I live?

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7 Months

Don’t forget about your teeth! Poor dental health can contribute to serious health issues like diabetes and coronary heart disease.

With seven months to go, you can start checking out dental plans designed specifically for Americans 65 and over. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) offers Dental Blue^® for Seniors in all 100 counties of North Carolina.

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6 Months

You’re halfway through the year-long countdown to your 65th birthday. If you’re leaning toward a Medicare Supplement plan, many insurers let you apply up to six months before your Part B coverage starts.

These plans cover many of the gaps in Medicare Parts A and B and policy holders can see any Medicare-participating doctor – with no claims to file.

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5 Months

Now you can think about scheduling a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit – at no cost.

During this visit, your doctor will provide a checklist of free screenings and preventive services covered by Medicare.

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4 Months

OK, there’s just one more month before you can officially sign up for Medicare.

If you haven’t already, compare Medicare Supplement plans, or consider whether a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D prescription drug plan fits your needs better. A Health Plans of NC agent can walk you through your options.

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3 Months

You’ve done the research, you’ve considered your options – with just 3 months until you turn 65, you’ve reached the initial enrollment period. You can now enroll in Medicare. Don’t risk any delays or gaps in your health insurance coverage.

You can apply online or at your local Social Security office.

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2 Months

If you signed up last month – three months before your 65th birthday – you can now check to see the effective date of your Medicare coverage.

If you haven’t yet enrolled in Medicare or selected a Medicare Supplemental Plan, what are you waiting for? Get started today!

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1 Month

For those who’ve already done their research, selected a plan and enrolled in Medicare, you can sit back and relax. You’re covered.

For those who haven’t yet enrolled, there’s still time to select a Medicare plan – and Medicare Supplemental  and Medicare Part D prescription plans – that will cover your health care and prescription needs.

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Make sure your 65th birthday is indeed a happy one. Start planning today for your health insurance and prescription needs! 

Interested in learning more about Medicare? Contact the Health Plans of NC agent on this webpage for more information!