Preparing for Medicare
Start your Medicare journey with us—we'll guide you along the way if you're new to Medicare and enrolling for the first time.
Most people enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) when first eligible at age 65 to avoid coverage gaps and late penalties.
However, if you have employer group health coverage, you might choose to delay Part B. If you receive Social Security benefits, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Part A.
Getting Started
Your journey to Medicare—a step-by-step guide
Taking specific steps can help you prepare for the Medicare process.
Below are some of the important things you should do when navigating Medicare for the first time:
Learn the Basics of Medicare |
Our FREE Medicare Made Simple Guide will introduce you to the many aspects of Medicare, including eligibility, enrollment, plan options, requirements, important dates, and more.
Check out our Medicare Glossary to learn common Medicare and insurance terms.
Review Your Current Health Coverage |
Consider your current health coverage, as it can make an impact on your Medicare options and enrollment requirements.
This is particulary important if you are currently insured through you or your spouse's employment.
Our Working Past 65 Guide can help you find personalized solutions for your specific scenario.
Check Your Eligibility |
While it is mostly a program for those 65 and older, Medicare also supports certain people under 65 with qualifying disabilities or medical conditions such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD, referring to permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant).
For a walkthrough of Medicare eligibility, see our Medicare Eligibility page.
Find Your Enrollment Period |
Medicare has enrollment periods. These are set windows of time when you can sign up for a plan—choosing the right enrollment period will depend on your personal situation.
There are four possible enrollment periods:
Initial Enrollment Period | Special Enrollment Period
General Enrollment Period | Annual Enrollment Period
To learn more about the different enrollment periods, see the Medicare Enrollment Guide.
Does Your Doctor Accept Medicare? |
Depending on the Medicare plan you select, your current doctor may or may not be part of the provider network.
Our Provider Search Tool makes it easy to see if your current doctor is within our Medicare Advantage network. If you don't have a primary care provider, you can use this search tool to find an in-network doctor in your local area.
Consider Your Medications |
Prescription drug coverage is one of the most important considerations in choosing a Medicare plan.
Our Formulary Search Tool allows you to look up specific Part D Prescription Drugs for coverage information and associated copay/coinsurance costs.
Additional Preparations
In addition to the checklist above, these tools and resources are also available to help you prepare for Medicare:
Next steps...
Compare Our Plans
We offer a variety of Medicare Advantage plans designed to fit your health care needs and budget.
Explore Provider Network
Is your doctor in our network? We have over 15,000 providers who participate in the Generations Advantage network.
Check Your Medications
Use the Drug Formulary Search Tool to find detailed coverage and tier information for specific medications.
Request a Medicare Guide
This free guide can help answer your questions and give you valuable information about our plans.
Attend a Seminar
Have additional questions? Join us for a free Medicare Advantage plan seminar. To fit your schedule, our sessions are available in-person or online.
Enroll in Generations Advantage
Ready to enroll? Our enrollment process only takes about 10 minutes—have your Medicare card ready and let's get started.
We're here to help guide you.
Local benefit specialists available to help you with your questions or give you personalized assistance.