Resources
Medicare Checklist
Solid Medicare decisions start with solid information. Almost every mess we fix traces back to something small: a drug missing from the list, a specialist nobody checked, an HR letter that never got requested.
Work through this list before comparing plans. It takes roughly twenty minutes and it's the same one we use sitting across the table from clients here in Columbus.
- What to round up before comparing plans
- Dates that shouldn't slip past you
- Questions worth asking any agent
Step 1
Round up your paperwork
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card, or a Social Security confirmation letter
- Your current insurance card and plan name, if you're covered today
- This fall's Annual Notice of Change letter, if a plan mailed one
- A creditable coverage letter from an employer, TRICARE or the VA
- A rough household income figure, in case you qualify for Extra Help
Step 2
Write down what you actually use
Doctors and hospital system
Primary care doctor, every specialist, and which system you'd rather stick with, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist or OSU Wexner Medical Center.Prescriptions
Exact drug names, dosages, how often you take them, and your pharmacy. A photo of the bottles works fine.Care coming up
A scheduled surgery, ongoing therapy or regular labs should steer which plan makes sense.
Step 3
Pin down your dates
- Your 65th birthday and the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around it
- The day Part B kicks in. That starts your 6-month Medigap window
- October 15 through December 7 for Annual Open Enrollment
- January 1 through March 31 if you're already on a Medicare Advantage plan
- Your last day of active employment, if you're holding off on Part B
Unsure which window you're in?
Read Turning 65 if you're brand new to this, or Switch Your Plan if you're already enrolled.
Step 4
What to ask before hiring an agent
A genuinely independent agent answers all of these without stalling: Which carriers are you appointed with? Will my doctors stay in-network on this exact plan next year? What will each of my prescriptions actually cost under this plan's formulary? What's my full expected cost for the year, not the premium alone? What's my path if I need to switch later?
Vague answers mean keep looking. Read about how we operate or start with the FAQs.
No cost, no pressure
List finished? Let's put it to work.
Bring what you've gathered and we'll line up the plans we sell in Franklin County side by side, and tell you plainly which ones fit your doctors and prescriptions.