Turning 65 in Arizona: a calm, month-by-month checklist

Turning 65 comes with a surprising amount of mail. Plan brochures, postcards about seminars, and at least one letter that looks official but is really an advertisement. The good news is that the steps themselves are simple once you put them in order. This checklist is the same one we walk through with clients at our Tucson office, laid out month by month.

Six months before your birthday

Start by collecting the facts about your current coverage. If you are working, ask your HR team two questions in writing: how many employees the company has, and whether your group plan is considered creditable coverage for Medicare. Those two answers decide whether you can delay Part B without a penalty.

• Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you do not have one.
• Write down every prescription with the dose and how often you take it.
• List your doctors, specialists and preferred hospital, such as Banner, TMC or Northwest.
• If you contribute to a Health Savings Account, talk with us about when to stop. Part A can be backdated up to six months.

Three months before your birthday

Your Initial Enrollment Period opens three months before the month you turn 65. If you already collect Social Security, you will be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically and your red, white and blue card will arrive in the mail. If you do not collect benefits yet, you apply yourself, online or at the Social Security office on East Broadway.

Applying during these first three months matters because your coverage then starts on the first day of your birthday month. Wait until your birthday month or later, and coverage starts the first of the following month.

The most common mistake we see is waiting for a letter that never comes. If you are not collecting Social Security yet, you have to apply.

Choosing how to fill the gaps

Original Medicare leaves real gaps: 20% coinsurance with no yearly cap, no routine dental or vision, and no outpatient prescription coverage. Most people choose one of two paths. The first is Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan. The second is a Medicare Advantage plan, which bundles hospital, medical and usually drug coverage, often with dental and vision extras.

• Medigap plus Part D suits people who travel, want any Medicare doctor nationwide, and prefer predictable costs.
• Medicare Advantage suits people who get most care locally and want lower premiums and extra benefits.
• Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months from the start of Part B. It is the best time to buy without health questions.

The month you turn 65

By now your plan decision should be made and your application submitted. Watch for your plan ID card and welcome packet. When they arrive, check that your name, plan and effective date are right, and make sure your pharmacy has your new card on file before your next refill.

If you are leaving an employer plan, do not cancel it until your Medicare coverage is confirmed. We like to see a written effective date before anyone calls HR.

After you are enrolled

Schedule your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit within the first 12 months. It is covered with no cost when your doctor accepts assignment, and it is a good moment to review medications and screenings. Then put a note on your calendar for October 1. Plans change every year, and a 20-minute review before the Annual Enrollment Period can save hundreds of dollars.

If any step feels unclear, our advisors are happy to go through it with you at no cost, in English or Spanish, at our office, at your home or by phone.

This guide is general education, not individual advice. Figures are samples and can change each year. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.