If you’re close to 65, but NOT getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, the first step is to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Login to the Social Security Administration website. Start your application for Medicare Part A & Part B.

ssa.gov

If you qualify as fully disabled with Social Security, you will qualify for Medicare in your 25th month of disability. A Medicare card should automatically be mailed to you, if not, contact your local Social Security office for assistance.

Once you have Medicare Part A & Part B, you are eligible to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan along with a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), or you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. There are lots of options available to you. Requesting a consultation at this point is adviced, to make sure that you are enrolling in a plan that fits your needs, accepts your doctors and will cover your medications!

Medicare is a health insurance plan for people 65 year of age. People can also qualify to enroll in Medicare due to disability, or if diagnosed with ESRD, or ALS.

Medicare is a national insurance policy. If used along side a Medicare Supplement plan, it offers great freedom to seek care anywhere Original Medicare is accepted. A stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) need to be added for compliant coverage and to avoid future penalties.

The alternative is to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, (Part C) that includes prescription drug coverage. Part C plans may also include additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare. Examples could include vision, hearing, sometimes even dental coverage and more. Staying within a HMO or PPO network of doctor will be required to achieve the maximum financial coverage.The Part C plans comes with a yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for healthcare costs. The limit varies between plans.

You can choose a Medicare Supplement plan and a Prescription Drug Plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Having both is not permitted or needed.