Resources
Medicare Checklist
Good Medicare decisions come from good inputs. Nearly every problem we untangle traces back to a missing detail — a drug left off a list, a specialist nobody checked, an HR letter never requested.
Work through this checklist before you compare plans. It takes about twenty minutes and it's the same list we use when we sit down with clients in Waco.
- What to gather before you compare plans
- Deadlines that shouldn't slip
- Questions worth asking any agent
Step 1
Gather your documents
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card (or Social Security confirmation)
- Current insurance card and plan name, if you have coverage today
- Your Annual Notice of Change letter, if a plan mailed one this fall
- Creditable coverage letter from an employer, TRICARE or the VA
- Approximate household income, if you may qualify for Extra Help
Step 2
List what you actually use
Doctors and hospital
Primary care, every specialist, and which system you prefer — Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest or Ascension Providence.Prescriptions
Exact drug names, dosages, frequency and your pharmacy. Photograph the bottles if that's easier.Expected care
A planned surgery, ongoing therapy or frequent labs should shape which plan you pick.
Step 3
Know your dates
- Your 65th birthday and the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around it
- The date your Part B starts — it begins your 6-month Medigap window
- October 15 to December 7 for Annual Open Enrollment
- January 1 to March 31 if you're on a Medicare Advantage plan
- The last day of active employment, if you're delaying Part B
Not sure which window applies?
Read Turning 65 if you're new, or Switch Your Plan if you're already enrolled.
Step 4
Questions to ask any agent
An independent agent should be able to answer all of these without hesitating: Which companies are you appointed with? Are my doctors in-network on this specific plan for next year? What does each of my prescriptions cost on this plan's formulary? What's my total expected cost for the year, not just the premium? What happens if I need to change later?
If the answers are vague, keep looking. You can read about how we work or start with the FAQs.
Checklist done? Let's compare.
Bring what you've gathered and we'll compare the plans we represent in McLennan County side by side, and explain which ones fit your doctors and prescriptions.