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Before You Pick a Medicare Plan, Start Here

By Andy Childs
Independent Medicare broker · Mesa, Arizona
480-296-5804

Medicare can get confusing pretty fast.

One ad talks about extra benefits. Another talks about the monthly premium. Then a friend tells you how much they like their plan, and you wonder if you should just get the same one.

But how do you know what actually fits your situation?

I’m Andy Childs. I’m a Medicare broker here in Mesa, and I help people across Arizona work through these questions.

My advice is to start with three things: your timing, the care you use, and the costs you need to understand. That gives us something useful to work with when we start comparing coverage.

First, figure out when you need coverage

Are you getting ready to turn 65? Retiring? Still working and covered through your job or your spouse’s job?

That matters.

Some people with coverage through current employment can wait to enroll in Part B. Others need to enroll when they’re first eligible. Before putting it off, check with your employer’s benefits administrator about how your coverage works with Medicare.

And if you’re moving to COBRA, don’t assume you can wait until COBRA ends. It doesn’t extend your Part B enrollment window.

You don’t have to memorize all the rules. Start by writing down what coverage you have now and when you expect it to end. We can work through the questions from there.

Next, write down your doctors and prescriptions

A plan comparison is a lot more useful when it starts with the care you actually use.

Make a short list of your doctors, prescriptions, and preferred pharmacy. Include the dosage of each medication. If you travel or spend part of the year somewhere else, write that down too.

Those details help us check things that a headline doesn’t tell you: provider access, drug coverage, and what you might pay for your care.

A friend’s experience can be helpful, but their doctors and prescriptions may be different from yours. I want to understand your situation before we talk about which options may fit.

Then, look beyond the monthly premium

The monthly premium is one part of the cost.

Depending on the coverage, there may also be deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. You also want to understand how the coverage works when you need a specialist, a hospital stay, or care away from home.

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage work differently. Medicare Supplement insurance is another piece to understand if you’re considering Original Medicare. We can go through those differences together, including what additional coverage you may need and when you can apply.

The goal is for you to understand what you’re choosing and why it fits your needs.

Here’s an easy place to start

I put together a free Medicare checklist to help you get these details organized.

It gives you a place to start with enrollment timing, your doctors and prescriptions, and the questions to ask before choosing coverage.

Get my free Medicare checklist

Enter your email and confirm your subscription. I’ll send you the checklist, plus a short Medicare email every other Monday. Unsubscribe anytime.

You don’t have to have it all figured out before we talk. That’s what I’m here to help with.

— Andy

Andy Childs Insurance • Mesa, Arizona • Serving Arizona

Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This article provides general information; enrollment and coverage options depend on your situation.

Further reading: Medicare and working past 65 and Medicare coverage choices.