Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Checklist

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is here again, and you have options. Give one of our licensed insurance agents a call today at (800) 950-0608 to review and compare available Medicare plans in your area.

The 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is Here. Are You Ready For It?

A new Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is on the horizon. If you’re eligible to enroll in a Medicare plan, you’ve likely been preparing for the big day to arrive. For instance, you may have started researching any of the following topics:

• How to enroll in Medicare
• Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2022
• Medicare Advantage plans 2023
• Medicare AEP

Like anything in life, there are many ways that you can prepare for AEP. Contrary to popular belief, being able to enroll in a Medicare plan during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2022 is relatively quick and painless. As long as you have everything you need in place, you’ll have no problem enrolling in a plan during this year’s Medicare AEP.

At MedicareInsurance.com, we want to help you get through any Medicare enrollment period with ease. That’s why we’ve put together this convenient checklist to help you prepare for this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period.

First, Here’s What You’ll Need to Enroll

Before you can even enroll in a Medicare plan, you’ll need to make sure that you have the proper documentation needed to fill out your application on hand. This is important for enrollment during any Medicare enrollment period.

Here’s the information and documentation that you’ll need to prove that you’re eligible for Medicare benefits:

• A birth certificate
• Proof of citizenship, such as a Social Security card
• For citizens who were not born in the United States, proof of residency, such as a naturalization certificate
• Your work history
• Proof of military service, such as discharge papers or records of military service before 1968
• W-2 forms, or other tax forms

Why do you need this information? It proves that you’re either of age to enroll in Medicare, or that you have a disability that makes you eligible. There are, of course, certain instances where you won’t need to provide this information. 

For example, if you’re receiving Social Security retirement benefits, the Social Security Administration will already have this information on hand. The same goes for those who were eligible through a disability and have received 2 years worth of SSDI payments.

Your Checklist for the 2022 Medicare AEP

So, you’ve determined that you want to enroll in a Medicare plan during the 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. If you’ve been looking into plans, you’ve probably already taken some of the steps we’ll list below. If you haven’t taken these steps, no worries! You have until December 7 to do your research and enroll in a Medicare that works for you.

Here’s a checklist of the steps you should take before enrolling in a Medicare plan during this year’s AEP:

• Check with your healthcare providers to make sure that they accept Medicare assignment.
• Use a plan finder tool to research the cost of Medicare plans in your area. For example, if you enter your zip code in our free plan finder below, you’ll be able to research and compare available Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D Prescription Drug plans in your area.
• Determine whether or not you’ll automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B)*.
• Decide whether or not you’ll need both Medicare Part A and Part B. If you feel like you’ll only need Part A, you can simply forego enrolling in Part B.
• Research whether or not your current health plan works with Medicare.
• Research income requirements for certain assistance programs. If you enroll in Medicare Advantage, you may have access to certain benefits that can help you reduce the costs of certain plans based on your income.
• Research what Medicare will and will not cover.
• Decide whether or not additional coverage from a Medicare Advantage plan can be helpful to you.

*There are some cases during which you’ll automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare when you’re eligible to do so. You’ll automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare if:

• You’ve applied for retirement or disability benefits through Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You’ve been receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least 4 months prior to turning 65.
• You became eligible through a disability and you’ve received SSDI payments for at least 24 months.

Where and How Can I Enroll in a Medicare Plan?

In the digital age, enrolling in a Medicare plan is much easier than it’s ever been. If you want to enroll in Original Medicare, the primary way is to enroll online through the Social Security Administration website. You can also fill out an application in person at your local Social Security office, or call the Social Security Administration or Railroad Retirement Board.

For those looking to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans for 2023, you’ll need to find a private insurance carrier near you that offers them. Before you choose a plan, make sure you’ve done plenty of research on 2023 Medicare Advantage plans near you. When researching Medicare Advantage plans for 2023, you’ll want to find one that offers benefits that adequately meet your own healthcare needs.

Do you need assistance finding Medicare Advantage plans for 2023 during this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period? We can help! Give our knowledgeable licensed agents a call today at (800) 950-0608. They’ll be happy to help you learn more about Medicare plans available in your area.