Turning 65 Medicare Checklist
Below are the tasks you should complete ahead of your 65th birthday to ensure you have the right coverage in place for your unique healthcare needs.
5 months before your 65th birthday:
Learn about Medicare, including what it does and does not cover.
Check with your employer to see if group coverage is an option.
Begin to consider your options for coverage that helps pay for costs not covered by Medicare Parts A & B.
4 months before your 65th birthday:
Sign up for Medicare/Social Security Retirement Benefits.
Check with your doctor(s) to see if they accept Medicare.
3 months before your 65th birthday:
Begin narrowing down your choice of plans to get more coverage than Original Medicare.
Consider the advantages of choosing one insurance provider vs. another.
Receive your Medicare card.
2 months before your 65th birthday:
Confirm that your medications and your doctors are covered by your plan of choice.
Apply for the coverage that’s right for your needs—Medicare Advantage, Prescription (Part D), or Medicare Supplement.
1 month before your 65th birthday:
Confirm your enrollment in your plan of choice.
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Horizon NJ TotalCare (HMO SNP) is an HMO Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State of New Jersey Medicaid Program. Enrollment in Horizon NJ TotalCare (HMO SNP) depends on contract renewal. Products are provided by HHNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Communications are issued by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all its companies.
Medicare Supplement plans are provided by Horizon Insurance Company and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Horizon Insurance Company (“HIC”) contracts with CMS to offer HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and Part D Medicare plans. Enrollment in HIC Medicare products depends on contract renewal. Products are provided by HIC and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Communications are issued by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all its companies.
Medicare Beneficiaries may enroll in Horizon Medicare Advantage and Medicare Rx Drug plans through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center. For more information, contact Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey at 1-877-234-1240, 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, Eastern Time. If you are speech or hearing-impaired, please call TTY# 711.
The Office of the Medicare Ombudsman (OMO) helps you with complaints, grievances and information requests. You may file a complaint or concern at Medicare Complaint Form.
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