I Got My Medicare Card—What Do I Do Next?

If you just received your Medicare card, your first steps are to verify the information on the card, confirm your Medicare Part A and Part B effective dates and decide how you want to handle the healthcare costs that Original Medicare does not pay.

Receiving the card does not necessarily mean that every Medicare decision has been completed. If you plan to keep Original Medicare, this is also the time to compare Medicare Supplement Plan G, Plan N and the insurance companies offering those plans in your area.

Your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period may begin when your Part B coverage starts, so it is important to understand your options before allowing valuable enrollment time to pass.

What Information Is Shown on Your Medicare Card?

Your red, white and blue Medicare card shows several important pieces of information:

• Your name as it appears in Medicare’s records
• Your unique Medicare number
• Whether you have Medicare Part A
• Whether you have Medicare Part B
• The date each part of Medicare begins

Review the card carefully. If your name, coverage type or effective date appears incorrect, contact Social Security before relying on the card to arrange additional coverage.

Step 1: Confirm Your Medicare Part A and Part B Dates

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It generally helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled-nursing facility care, hospice care and certain home health services.

Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It generally helps cover physician services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment and many preventive services.

The effective dates shown on the card are especially important because any Medicare Supplement coverage should be coordinated with the date your Original Medicare coverage begins.

You can learn more in our guides to Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

Step 2: Decide Whether You Should Have Medicare Part B

Many people enrolling at age 65 need both Medicare Part A and Part B. However, someone who remains actively employed or covered through a spouse’s current employment may be able to delay Part B without a late-enrollment penalty.

Retiree insurance, COBRA, individual health insurance and certain other forms of coverage do not necessarily provide the same right to delay Part B. Before refusing or delaying Part B, confirm the rules with Social Security and the employer-benefits administrator.

Step 3: Decide How You Want to Receive Your Medicare Coverage

Once you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you generally need to decide how you want to receive your Medicare healthcare coverage.

One option is to keep Original Medicare and purchase a Medicare Supplement policy to help pay eligible out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Supplement insurance is also called Medigap.

Medicare’s welcome materials also explain Medicare Advantage as a separate method of receiving Medicare benefits through a private plan. Medicare Supplement insurance does not work with Medicare Advantage.

This article focuses on people who want to keep Original Medicare and compare Medicare Supplement coverage.

Step 4: Understand Your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period

Under federal law, your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally begins on the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During this six-month period:

• You may purchase any Medicare Supplement policy sold to new applicants in your state.
• An insurance company cannot deny the application because of your health.
• You cannot be charged more because of pre-existing health conditions.
• You generally have access to your greatest selection of Medigap policies.

This is a one-time Medigap enrollment period. It does not repeat every year during Medicare’s fall Annual Election Period.

After the six-month period ends, medical underwriting may apply unless you qualify for a guaranteed-issue right or another applicable protection.

Step 5: Compare Medicare Supplement Plan G and Plan N

Plan G and Plan N are two of the most frequently compared Medicare Supplement plans for people who are newly eligible for Medicare.

How does Medicare Supplement Plan G work?

Plan G generally pays the major Medicare-approved out-of-pocket costs left after Original Medicare, except for the annual Medicare Part B deductible.

Plan G may appeal to someone who prefers more predictable medical costs and does not want Plan N’s office and emergency-room copayments.

How does Medicare Supplement Plan N work?

Plan N may offer a lower monthly premium than Plan G while requiring certain cost-sharing. Plan N may require a copayment of up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for an emergency-room visit that does not result in an inpatient admission.

Plan N does not cover the annual Medicare Part B deductible or Medicare Part B excess charges.

Our Plan G versus Plan N comparison for Pennsylvania explains these differences in more detail.

Step 6: Compare Insurance Companies Offering the Same Plan

Medicare Supplement benefits are standardized by plan letter. A Plan N from one company provides the same standardized medical benefits as a Plan N from another company.

The insurance company can still matter because companies may differ in:

• Monthly premium
• Household discounts
• Application or policy fees
• Historical rate increases
• Financial strength
• Underwriting requirements after open enrollment
• Additional noninsurance services

Comparing several companies with the same personal information and effective date can help identify which policy provides the strongest value.

Step 7: Coordinate Your Effective Dates

Your Medicare Supplement effective date should normally be coordinated with the date your Medicare Part B coverage begins. This helps prevent an unintended gap between Original Medicare and supplemental coverage.

Do not assume that receiving the Medicare card automatically activates a Medicare Supplement policy. Medigap is separate private insurance and requires its own application.

You should receive confirmation from the Medicare Supplement insurance company showing that the application was approved, the monthly premium and the policy’s effective date.

Step 8: Keep Your Medicare Documents in a Safe Place

Keep the Medicare welcome letter, Medicare card, Social Security notices and insurance-policy documents together. You may need the effective dates and Medicare number when applying for supplemental coverage.

You can also create a secure Medicare.gov account to review Medicare information and claims after coverage begins.

Your New Medicare Card Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first after receiving my Medicare card?

Confirm that your name, Medicare coverage and Part A and Part B effective dates are correct. If anything appears incorrect, contact Social Security.

Does receiving my Medicare card mean I have a Medicare Supplement?

No. Your Medicare card confirms Original Medicare coverage. Medicare Supplement insurance is separate private coverage and requires a separate application.

When can I apply for a Medicare Supplement?

You can compare coverage before Medicare begins and request a future effective date. Your federal six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally begins when you are age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.

Do I need both Medicare Part A and Part B for a Medicare Supplement?

Yes. You generally need both Medicare Part A and Part B for Medicare Supplement coverage.

Should I choose Plan G or Plan N?

Plan G generally provides more predictable cost-sharing, while Plan N may offer a lower premium in exchange for certain copayments and other out-of-pocket responsibilities. The better choice depends on the premiums available and your preferences.

Can I use a Medicare Supplement anywhere in the United States?

Medicare Supplement coverage generally works with any healthcare provider in the United States that participates in Medicare and agrees to treat you. Traditional Medicare Supplement policies do not use the provider networks associated with many managed-care plans.

Do I have to wait until Medicare Annual Enrollment to buy Medigap?

No. Medicare Supplement applications are not limited to the October 15 through December 7 Annual Election Period.

Does working with an independent broker cost extra?

The DeAngelis Agency does not charge applicants a separate fee for comparing and enrolling in Medicare Supplement coverage.

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