Medicare Starts Here™ · Choosing Your First Plan
New to Medicare? Get Help Choosing Your First Plan
Your first Medicare plan is an important decision. The coverage you choose can affect which doctors you see, what you pay, and how easily you can change coverage later. We'll help you understand the differences before you decide.
Talk with a licensed agent. No cost for the review. No obligation to enroll.
Already have Medicare? See how we can review your current plan
If you've already read enough about Medicare and still aren't sure what to choose, that's exactly where we can help. Medicare packs a lot of decisions into one enrollment, and some of them are harder to change later than the ads suggest.
Before You Choose
Is December 7 Really Your Deadline?
If you're seeing ads that say "enroll by December 7," that date may not apply to you. December 7 is the end of Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period, which is mainly for people who already have Medicare and want to change plans for next year.
If you're new to Medicare, your deadline usually comes from one of the enrollment windows below. Find your situation first, then compare plans.
| Your situation | Your enrollment window | What it means for choosing a plan |
|---|---|---|
| Turning 65 | Parts A and B: your Initial Enrollment Period, 7 months — the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Medicare Advantage and Part D: separate first-time windows that, for most people turning 65, line up with those same 7 months. |
Sign up for Parts A and B before your birthday month and coverage generally starts the month you turn 65. Your Advantage or Part D plan generally can't start before your Part A and B coverage does. Find your exact dates |
| Retiring or losing job-based coverage after 65 | Part B: a Special Enrollment Period of generally up to 8 months after the job or the coverage ends, whichever comes first. Medicare Advantage and Part D: a separate Special Enrollment Period, generally 2 full months after the month the coverage ends. |
Don't wait for the fall. COBRA and retiree coverage don't count as current job-based coverage for Part B. Retiring after 65: what to do |
| Eligible because of a disability (under 65) | You're generally enrolled in Parts A and B automatically after 24 months of disability benefits | Medicare Supplement options before 65 depend on your state, and you get a new Medigap Initial Enrollment Period when you turn 65. |
| Already have Parts A and B and shopping for next year The ads | Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, with coverage starting January 1 | This is the window the "enroll by December 7" ads are talking about. Already on Medicare? |
Not sure when you qualify? Start with our Medicare eligibility age chart. For month-by-month steps before 65, see the Turning 65 Medicare guide. Official timing rules: Medicare.gov — when coverage starts.
Step zero: You need both Medicare Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan, and generally to buy a Medicare Supplement policy. Have your red, white, and blue Medicare card — or your Medicare number and Part A and Part B start dates — ready before you choose a plan.
Your First Big Choice
Start With the Two Main Medicare Coverage Paths
Before comparing specific plans, it helps to know which of the two main coverage paths you're choosing between. Neither path is better for everyone. The right one depends on how you use healthcare and how you'd rather pay for it.
Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement + Part D
- Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical).
- A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy can help pay certain out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind.
- Medigap policies sold today don't include prescription drug coverage. If you want Medicare drug coverage with Original Medicare, you can add a separate Part D plan.
- Broad provider access wherever a provider accepts Medicare.
- Medigap generally doesn't include routine dental, vision, or OTC extras. For the same standardized Medigap plan letter, the basic benefits are the same between insurance companies, but premiums can differ between insurance companies — underwriting may apply outside guaranteed-issue periods (see why timing matters).
Medicare Advantage
- Another way to receive Part A and Part B benefits, through a private Medicare-approved insurer.
- Many plans include prescription drug coverage.
- Plans may include additional benefits when available.
- Provider networks and plan rules matter — check copays, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket limits.
- Plan availability varies by county and ZIP code.
Hardest to Undo
Why Your First Medicare Choice Matters Most
You can usually change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans every fall. Switching into a Medicare Supplement later is a different story. That's why your first decision deserves more care than an annual plan review — some protections are strongest when you're new to Medicare.
Medicare Supplement
Your 6-Month Medigap Initial Enrollment Period
It starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. During these 6 months, an insurer generally can't refuse to sell you a Medigap policy or charge you more because of your health. After it ends, insurers in most states can ask health questions. How guaranteed approval works
Medicare Advantage
Your 12-Month Trial Right
If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you were first eligible for Medicare at 65, you can generally leave it within the first 12 months, return to Original Medicare, and buy a Medigap policy without health questions. A similar right applies if you dropped a Medigap policy to try Advantage for the first time. Timing and paperwork rules apply, and state rules vary, so we'll confirm whether it applies to you before you count on it.
Medicare Advantage
One Change Early On
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare once during January 1 – March 31, or during your first 3 months with Medicare. This doesn't by itself guarantee you can buy a Medigap policy.
What this means in real life
Choosing Medicare Advantage at 65 to keep premiums low is a reasonable choice for many people. Just know that if your health changes years later and you want a Supplement's any-doctor flexibility, you may have to pass medical underwriting to get one. Some states add their own protections, and we'll tell you what applies where you live.
How We Help You Narrow the Choices
The 5 Things We Check Before Comparing Medicare Plans
A Medicare comparison tool can show you plans. A Medicare advisor can help you understand which differences actually matter to you. These are the five things worth checking before you enroll.
Your Doctors and Hospitals
We look at the doctors and facilities you want to keep. For Medicare Advantage, that means checking the actual plan's network — not assuming every plan from a carrier is accepted just because the carrier's name is familiar. For Original Medicare, it means confirming providers accept Medicare.
Your Prescription Drugs
We review your medications and preferred pharmacy against available drug coverage. Formularies, tiers, and pharmacy pricing vary by plan, and medication costs can change substantially between two plans that otherwise look similar. Learn more about Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
Your Total Costs
We compare premiums with the potential out-of-pocket costs of actually using the coverage — deductibles, copays, coinsurance, prescriptions, and maximum out-of-pocket exposure. A $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan does not mean $0 healthcare costs, and you still pay your Part B premium. See this year's numbers in our 2027 Medicare costs guide.
How and Where You Receive Care
We consider travel, snowbird situations, specialist use, and how much provider flexibility matters to you — local networks work differently than national access.
What Matters Most to You
Predictable costs, a lower monthly premium, broad provider access, dental, vision, hearing, or travel flexibility all matter differently to different people. Extras shouldn't overshadow medical coverage, provider access, and total cost.
Let's Talk It Through
Let's Narrow Down Your Medicare Choices
You don't need to compare every plan yourself. Tell us your ZIP code, doctors, prescriptions, and priorities. A licensed agent will confirm your enrollment window, check both coverage paths against your situation, and explain what fits — before you enroll in anything.
No cost for the review. No obligation to enroll. See what happens next.
A Direct Answer
Who Can Help Me Choose a Medicare Plan?
You can get help from Medicare.gov, your state's SHIP program, or a licensed Medicare insurance agent or broker. Being transparent about the alternatives makes this an easier decision, not a harder one.
Medicare.gov
The official source for Medicare information and the Medicare Plan Finder tool. A strong starting point for researching plans on your own timeline.
Your State SHIP Program
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs provide free, unbiased Medicare counseling. SHIP counselors can help you understand coverage options, compare plans and costs, and work through Medicare enrollment questions.
An Independent Medicare Insurance Agent
An independent agent can discuss your circumstances, compare plans from the companies the agency represents, check your doctors and prescriptions, explain costs, and remain a point of contact after you enroll.
The advantage of working with an independent Medicare advisor is having someone help connect the pieces — your doctors, medications, budget, and coverage preferences — rather than simply handing you a list of plans. An independent agent isn't the same as SHIP's unbiased counseling; agencies including Lehigh Partners are compensated by carriers when they help enroll eligible clients in represented plans. Ask any agent how they're compensated if you'd like to know.
A Closer Look
Medicare Advantage or Medigap: How Do You Decide?
The goal isn't to look at the most plans. It's to narrow the choices to the ones that fit your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and priorities. Here's how the two paths generally compare.
Swipe to compare →
| Question | Medicare Advantage | Original Medicare + Medigap |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium structure | Often lower, sometimes $0 in addition to Part B | Separate Medigap premium in addition to Part B |
| Doctor / network considerations | Depends on the plan's network | Broad access where providers accept Medicare |
| Prescription coverage | Often included | Separate Part D plan available for Medicare drug coverage |
| Out-of-pocket structure | Copays and coinsurance, with an annual maximum | Depending on the Medigap plan, many Original Medicare cost-sharing gaps may be covered |
| Extra benefits | May include dental, vision, hearing, or OTC | Generally not included |
| Travel / provider flexibility | Varies by plan and network type | Generally stronger nationwide |
| Annual plan changes | Benefits and costs can change each year | Standardized policy benefits remain consistent; premiums can change |
| Need for separate Part D coverage | Usually not needed | If you want Medicare drug coverage |
This table reflects general patterns, not guarantees — exact costs, benefits, and availability vary by plan, carrier, and county. For a deeper side-by-side breakdown, see our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison.
Worth Avoiding
Common Medicare Plan Selection Mistakes
Rushing to Beat December 7
If you're new to Medicare, your deadline usually comes from your own enrollment window, not the fall Annual Enrollment Period. Find your real deadline before an ad sets it for you.
Letting the Medigap Window Pass Without Deciding
Your 6-month Medigap Initial Enrollment Period starts with Part B whether you use it or not. If you wait, you may face health questions later. Why timing matters
Skipping Drug Coverage Because You Take Nothing Today
Going 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage can lead to a late penalty that lasts as long as you have Part D. Estimate the penalty
Choosing Based Only on the Monthly Premium
The lowest premium isn't always the lowest overall cost. Deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and prescription costs can outweigh a small premium difference once you actually use care.
Not Checking Your Doctors
Assuming a plan works with your doctors because the carrier name is familiar is one of the most common — and most avoidable — mistakes with Medicare Advantage.
Ignoring Prescription Costs
A plan can look inexpensive overall and still cost more for your specific medications, depending on the formulary tier and pharmacy you use.
Focusing Too Much on Extra Benefits
Dental, vision, gym, and OTC benefits are worth considering, but they shouldn't outweigh medical coverage, provider access, and prescription costs when you compare plans.
Assuming Today's Coverage Will Always Stay the Same
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan benefits, networks, and costs can change each year. Reviewing your Annual Notice of Change is worth the few minutes it takes.
Getting Started
What Information Should You Have Ready?
A Medicare review goes faster when you have a few details on hand. You don't need everything below to get started — even a ZIP code and a general sense of priorities is enough for a first conversation.
- ZIP code
- Medicare effective date, if known
- Doctors and specialists you want to keep
- Preferred hospitals
- Prescriptions, including dosage and frequency
- Preferred pharmacy
- Current coverage, if you have any
- Travel habits or a second home
- Budget and coverage priorities
Turning 65? Use the Medicare timeline calculator to see your exact dates, or get the free Turning 65 Medicare checklist to keep everything in one place.
Medicare Help Without the Call-Center Feel
Why Work With Lehigh Partners?
Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits is an independent Medicare insurance agency. We compare available options from multiple insurance companies, based on your actual doctors, prescriptions, location, and budget — not a script.
Our job isn't to tell everyone to choose the same kind of Medicare coverage. It is to help you understand your choices and decide what fits your situation. We remain a point of contact after you enroll, not just during the sign-up call.
If you'd prefer help beyond simply choosing a plan, Medicare Handled™ is Lehigh Partners' one-on-one approach to organizing the Medicare decision, enrollment timing, and ongoing support.
No Surprises
What Happens After You Reach Out
You'll talk with a licensed Lehigh Partners agent, not a call center. Most first-plan reviews take about 30 minutes by phone.
-
We confirm your timing
Your Part A and Part B dates, your enrollment window, and how any job, retiree, or COBRA coverage fits.
-
We review your situation
Your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacy, travel, and budget.
-
We explain your options
Both coverage paths, in plain English, including which choices are hard to undo later.
-
You decide
On your timeline. There's no obligation to enroll, and we're still here after you do.
Already Have Medicare?
Choosing a Plan for Next Year Instead?
If you already have Medicare, the Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, and changes generally take effect January 1. Start with your Annual Notice of Change, then let us check whether your plan still fits your doctors, prescriptions, and budget.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Medicare Plan
Get Your First Medicare Plan Right — With Someone Who Checks First
Tell us where you live, which doctors you want to keep, and what matters most to you. A licensed agent will confirm your deadline, compare both coverage paths against your real needs, and explain the tradeoffs. You make the decision — no obligation to enroll.
No-pressure Medicare guidance from Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits. Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits is a licensed independent insurance agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Get Personalized Help
Start Your Medicare Plan Review
We'll use this information to understand which Medicare choices may fit your situation. You can include your Medicare start date, doctors, prescriptions, pharmacy, county, current coverage, or what matters most to you. A licensed agent will follow up the way you prefer.