Search Menu GoHealth CALL US New to Medicare Guide A Simple Guide to Help You Take Control of Your Health Insurance Medicare can be tricky, but we’re here to help you make sense of everything and get ready to enroll. What is Medicare? Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older and younger people with certain disabilities. Medicare includes four parts (Parts A, B, C, D) but Original Medicare is Part A and Part B. PART A covers inpatient hospital care, hospice care, inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, and home health care services. PART B covers medical care and services provided by doctors and other medical practitioners. The Basics There’s a lot to learn about Medicare, so let’s start with the basics. BASIC FACTS & FAQS Answers to common Medicare questions MEDICARE PLANS: PROS & CONS Understand how different plans compare HMO VS. PPO How provider networks work in your plan PRO TIPS Quick tips from licensed insurance agents MEDICARE MYTHS What’s fact and fiction Enrollment Know your enrollment dates. If you are late, it could cost you. ELIGIBILITY & ENROLLMENT Understand when and how to sign up for Medicare ENROLLMENT MISTAKES TO AVOID Avoid these simple mistakes when it’s time to enroll ENROLLMENT CHECKLIST A list to get your organized for enrollment MISSED YOUR ENROLLMENT PERIOD? Enroll in Medicare for the first time outside of your Initial Enrollment Period After Enrollment Watch for your enrollment packet in the mail. ENROLLMENT PACKET Welcome to Medicare! Coverage & Benefits When you understand how Part A and Part B coverage work, you can take steps toward selecting benefits and the health coverage you need. Original Medicare provides affordable insurance but frankly does not cover all of your costs and has minimal coverage and benefits. To improve your healthcare coverage and safeguard your personal finances, you should add a Part D plan (for prescription drug coverage) and a Medigap plan (to minimize healthcare costs that Original Medicare alone leaves you susceptible to). You also have the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which not only includes Parts A and B but in most cases additional benefits like dental, vision, hearing, prescription drug coverage, and more. Most Medicare Advantage plans are offered at no cost to you too. Learn more about the parts of Medicare, and Medicaid. Original Medicare (Part A, Part B) Original Medicare covers 80% of hospital visits and medical care through Part A and Part B. It has minimal prescription drug coverage, which is why many people will add a Part D prescription drug plan as additional coverage. It may seem odd, but Part D is a stand-alone plan that you must elect to get proper prescription drug coverage. The same is true for dental, hearing or vision plans, which aren’t covered by Original Medicare (Part A and B). If you would rather bundle all these services into one plan, consider Medicare Advantage. Whether you’re new to Medicare, or in need of adjusting your coverage later down the line, give yourself enough time to compare your options. The wrong coverage or missing an enrollment deadline could end up costing you more you think. Pro Tip: If you delay Part B enrollment when first eligible, you may be responsible for a lifetime late enrollment penalty once you enroll later. Medicare Advantage (Part C) Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) Medicaid (Low Income) Enrolling in Medicare for the First Time Did you know you have seven months surrounding your 65 birthday month to enroll? Yes. It’s called your Initial Enrollment Period. For many, it’s the month of your 65 birthday, the three months before, and the three months after your birthday month. For those born on the first of the month, it’s the month of your 65 birthday, the four months before, and the two months after your birthday month. Life happens. We know and so does Medicare. If you miss your opportunity to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, a General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 allows enrollment and coverage will start July 1. Pro Tip: You have a lot of time to compare and research Medicare plans the first time you enroll. Take advantage of the time to ask questions and think about what type of coverage you’ll need. ELIGIBILITY & ENROLLMENT Medicare Enrollment Calculator Discover when your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period is. Birth Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Birth Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Birth Year 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 Submit New to Medicare Articles The Basics We know you feel overwhelmed. Don’t be. We created these articles to help you get started with Medicare. BASIC FACTS & FAQS MEDICARE PLANS: PROS & CONS HMO VS. PPO PRO TIPS MEDICARE MYTHS Enrollment How to enroll in Medicare for the first time, and how to avoid the mistakes we hear all the time. ELIGIBILITY & ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT MISTAKES TO AVOID ENROLLMENT CHECKLIST MISSED YOUR ENROLLMENT PERIOD? After Enrollment You’re enrolled, congrats! Don’t miss your enrollment packet in the mail. ENROLLMENT PACKET Additional Learning Guides Before 65 Guide Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement. Medicare Plans Guide Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan. Medicare Beneficiary Guide For those currently enrolled in Medicare. Low Income & Medicare Guide For individuals with a qualifying income status. A Caregiver’s Guide For those helping a loved one with Medicare. Discover how GoHealth can help you. Speak with our licensed insurance agents, anytime. 1-855-792-0088 TTY: 711 Mon-Fri, 7am-9pm CT, Sat-Sun, 9am-6pm CT This website is operated by GoHealth, LLC., a licensed health insurance company. The website and its contents are for informational and educational purposes; helping people understand Medicare in a simple way. The purpose of this website is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by a licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Our mission is to help every American get better health insurance and save money. If you’re looking for the government’s Medicare site, please navigate to www.medicare.gov. 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