What to Know Before You Turn 65: Your Medicare Checklist
By Tara Okhovatian | Covered by Tara
Health & Healing Advocate. Medicare Made Simple.
Turning 65 is a major milestone—and with it comes an opportunity to secure health coverage that fits your life and budget. But Medicare enrollment can be confusing if you don’t know where to begin. That’s where I come in. As a licensed independent Medicare agent and a passionate community health advocate, I’m here to walk you through the essentials.
Here’s your checklist for a stress-free transition into Medicare:
1. Know Your Medicare Enrollment Window
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) begins 3 months before your 65th birthday and lasts 3 months after, for a total of 7 months. Missing this window can lead to penalties and delays—so mark your calendar!
2. Understand the Parts of Medicare
Medicare has four parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance) – usually premium-free if you’ve worked 10+ years.
- Part B (Medical Insurance) – covers doctor visits and outpatient care.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage) – all-in-one plans with extra benefits like vision, dental, and fitness.
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) – required if you take medications regularly.
Need help deciding? I’ll compare options for you, at no cost.
3. Decide Between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare + Medigap might work best if you see specialists often. Medicare Advantage could be ideal if you want lower premiums and all-in-one benefits. I help my clients understand their lifestyle, budget, and health needs to match them with the right plan.
4. Review Your Prescription Needs
Have a list of your medications ready. Drug coverage and prices vary from plan to plan, so this step is key to saving money and avoiding surprises.
5. Watch Out for Scams
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Only work with licensed agents who represent multiple carriers (like me!). I’ll never pressure you—and I’ll always explain things in plain English.
6. Schedule a Free Medicare Consultation with Me
There’s no cost to work with an independent agent like myself. Let’s chat before your birthday so you can make confident, informed decisions about your healthcare future.
Bonus: You Deserve More Than Just Coverage
I believe health insurance should be part of a larger ecosystem of care. That’s why I also offer community yoga classes, host healing events, and provide pop-up produce markets—because you deserve to be covered with care.
Ready to get your Medicare questions answered?
Call/text me at 386-229-5886 or visit calendly.com/coveredbytara to book your free consultation.
Let’s make turning 65 something to celebrate—not stress about.
