I received my Medicare Card!
Now What?

If automatically enrolled in Part A you should receive your Medicare Card in the mail 2-3 months before your 65th birthday. It will arrive in a white envelope from CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid). Be on the look out for this card whether you are automatically enrolled or you enrolled yourself. Your card will be red, white and blue paper card, not laminated and will include your 9 digits and letters that make up your Medicare ID Number. It will also show a Part A and Part B Effective Date.

Once you have this card, please call me immediately to begin the enrollment process in either a Medicare Supplement Plan with a Prescription Drug Plan OR a Medicare Advantage Plan. You cannot have both. You will choose a Medicare Supplement or a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C Plans) offer coverage through an insurance company and a network of providers such as HMO or PPO that is an alternative to original Medicare. Your Medicare Advantage Part C Plan replaces your Part A and B, however, you still must pay for the Part B premium before you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare Advantage plans are an all-inclusive plans that include Part A, Part B and usually Part D. In addition to prescription drug coverage, these plans will often include dental and vision coverage. Medicare Advantage plans are similar to traditional insurance since they include copays, coinsurance and a maximum-out-of pocket limit. You pay only if /when you use it or need it and it provides a cap on your maximum out of pocket spending. You must see doctors within the HMO or PPO network, however, the monthly premiums are very low or can even have a zero monthly premium, which makes them very attractive to many on a fixed income.