7 Steps to Get Started With Medicare
If you’re new to Medicare in Minnesota, knowing what to do—and when to do it—can make the transition much easier.
Medicare involves more than simply signing up for a health insurance plan. You first need to determine when you should enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. Then you’ll decide how you want to receive your Medicare coverage and whether you need prescription drug or supplemental coverage.
Use this New to Medicare Checklist for Minnesota to work through the process one step at a time.
Learn First. Decide With Confidence.
Step 1: Determine When You Need to Enroll in Medicare
For most people becoming eligible for Medicare at age 65, the first opportunity to enroll is the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
Your Initial Enrollment Period generally lasts seven months:
- 3 months before the month you turn 65
- The month you turn 65
- 3 months after the month you turn 65
If your birthday is on the first day of a month, Medicare uses different timing rules and generally treats you as reaching age 65 during the previous month.
Check whether you’ll be enrolled automatically
If you’re receiving Social Security retirement benefits at least four months before turning 65, you generally will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.
If you aren’t receiving Social Security benefits, you generally need to enroll through the Social Security Administration.
Checklist:
☐ Determine your Initial Enrollment Period
☐ Find out whether you’ll be automatically enrolled
☐ Confirm when your Part A coverage will begin
☐ Confirm when your Part B coverage will begin
☐ Keep your Medicare card and Medicare number in a secure place
Related: [Turning 65? Your Guide to Medicare in Minnesota]
Step 2: If You’re Still Working, Check Your Employer Coverage Before Enrolling
Turning 65 doesn’t necessarily mean everyone should immediately enroll in Medicare Part B.
If you or your spouse are actively working and you have group health coverage based on that current employment, you may be able to delay Part B without a late-enrollment penalty.
However, don’t delay Part B simply because you have health insurance.
Before making that decision, ask your employer or benefits administrator:
☐ Is my insurance based on my or my spouse’s current employment?
☐ How many employees does the employer have?
☐ Will my employer plan pay primary or secondary to Medicare?
☐ Does the employer require me to enroll in Medicare at 65?
☐ Is my prescription drug coverage considered creditable for Medicare Part D?
☐ What happens to my employer coverage if I enroll in Medicare?
Employer size can matter. In some situations involving employers with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare may be the primary payer after age 65.
Know the Part B Special Enrollment Period
If you qualify to delay Part B because of group health coverage based on current employment, you generally can enroll while that coverage continues or during an 8-month Special Enrollment Period after the employment ends or the qualifying group health coverage ends, whichever happens first.
COBRA and retiree coverage don’t necessarily provide the same Part B enrollment protections as coverage based on current employment.
Related: [65 and Still Working? Medicare Guidance for Minnesotans]
Step 3: Check Your HSA Before Enrolling in Medicare
If you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), don’t overlook this step.
Once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you’re no longer eligible to contribute to an HSA.
There is another important issue for people who enroll after age 65: premium-free Medicare Part A can generally be retroactive for up to six months, but not earlier than the month you first became eligible for Medicare.
That retroactive Part A coverage can affect your HSA contribution eligibility.
Checklist:
☐ Determine whether you’re currently contributing to an HSA
☐ Talk with your employer, tax professional or benefits advisor about when HSA contributions should stop
☐ Consider possible retroactive Part A coverage before selecting your Medicare enrollment date
Step 4: Understand Medicare Parts A and B
Before comparing private Medicare plans, understand what you’re starting with.
Medicare Part A — Hospital Insurance
Part A helps cover:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility care when Medicare requirements are met
- Hospice care
- Certain home health care
Most people qualify for premium-free Part A based on their own or a spouse’s Medicare-tax work history.
Medicare Part B — Medical Insurance
Part B helps cover services such as:
- Doctor and other health care provider services
- Outpatient care
- Preventive services
- Durable medical equipment
- Certain home health services
Most beneficiaries pay a monthly premium for Part B.
Together, Part A and Part B are known as Original Medicare.
Checklist:
☐ Understand what Part A covers
☐ Understand what Part B covers
☐ Know your Part B premium
☐ Check whether an income-related adjustment may apply to your Medicare premiums
Related: [Medicare Part A – Hospital Coverage]
Related: [Medicare Part B – Medical Coverage]
Step 5: Choose How You Want to Receive Your Medicare Coverage
Once you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you have an important decision to make.
There are two main ways to receive Medicare coverage.
Option 1: Original Medicare
Original Medicare includes:
Part A — Hospital Insurance
Part B — Medical Insurance
With Original Medicare, you can generally receive covered services from any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare.
Original Medicare doesn’t pay all of your health care costs and doesn’t include an annual maximum out-of-pocket limit for Part A and Part B services.
If you choose Original Medicare, you can also consider:
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Medicare Supplement insurance can help pay certain deductibles, copayments and coinsurance left by Original Medicare.
Minnesota has its own Medicare Supplement structure and state-specific consumer protections.
Medicare Part D
You can also enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan for outpatient prescription drug coverage.
Original Medicare checklist:
☐ Decide whether Original Medicare fits your needs
☐ Consider Medicare Supplement coverage
☐ Review Minnesota Medicare Supplement rules
☐ Review standalone Part D plans
☐ Compare total premiums and potential out-of-pocket costs
Option 2: Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is another way to receive your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits.
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.
You must have both Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan and must continue paying your Part B premium.
Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
Depending on the plan, you may also have:
- Provider networks
- Copayments and coinsurance
- Prior authorization requirements
- An annual maximum out-of-pocket limit for covered Part A and Part B services
- Additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare
Medicare Advantage plan availability varies by county and service area in Minnesota.
Medicare Advantage checklist:
☐ Check whether your doctors are in the plan’s network
☐ Check your preferred hospitals and health systems
☐ Enter every prescription you take
☐ Check whether your pharmacies are preferred or in-network
☐ Compare premiums
☐ Compare deductibles and copayments
☐ Compare the plan’s maximum out-of-pocket amount
☐ Consider how the plan works when you travel
Related: [Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage]
Step 6: Don’t Forget Prescription Drug Coverage
Prescription drug coverage deserves its own place on your Medicare checklist.
If you choose Original Medicare, you can obtain drug coverage through a standalone Medicare Part D plan.
Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage.
Don’t assume that you don’t need drug coverage simply because you currently take few or no prescriptions.
If you go 63 consecutive days or more without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable prescription drug coverage after the applicable enrollment period, you may owe a Part D late-enrollment penalty when you enroll later.
If you’re keeping employer or union prescription coverage, ask whether it is considered creditable prescription drug coverage and keep the written creditable-coverage notice.
Prescription checklist:
☐ Make a list of every prescription you take
☐ Include dosage and frequency
☐ Identify your preferred pharmacies
☐ Check each drug against the plan’s formulary
☐ Review drug tiers and applicable restrictions
☐ Check estimated annual—not just monthly—drug costs
☐ Keep proof of creditable prescription coverage if you delay Part D
Related: [Medicare Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage]
Step 7: Compare Your Options Before You Enroll
Don’t choose Medicare coverage based solely on the monthly premium.
Before enrolling, compare:
☐ Your doctors and specialists
☐ Preferred hospitals and health systems
☐ Prescription medications
☐ Pharmacies
☐ Monthly premiums
☐ Deductibles
☐ Copayments and coinsurance
☐ Potential annual out-of-pocket costs
☐ Provider-network restrictions
☐ Travel needs
☐ Additional benefits that matter to you
A plan with a low or $0 additional monthly premium isn’t necessarily the least expensive choice for every person.
Likewise, the plan that works well for a spouse, neighbor or friend may not be the best fit for you.
After You Enroll: Confirm Everything
Don’t assume the process is complete as soon as you submit an application.
Final enrollment checklist:
☐ Confirm your Medicare Part A effective date
☐ Confirm your Medicare Part B effective date
☐ Confirm your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan effective date, if applicable
☐ Review your plan identification card when it arrives
☐ Confirm your premium and payment arrangements
☐ Make sure your doctors and preferred pharmacies are correctly identified
☐ Review your plan’s Evidence of Coverage and other enrollment materials
☐ Keep important Medicare and insurance documents together
Review Your Medicare Coverage Every Year
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can change from one year to the next.
Changes may involve:
- Premiums
- Deductibles
- Copayments and coinsurance
- Prescription drug formularies
- Pharmacy networks
- Provider networks
- Prior authorization requirements
- Additional benefits
If you’re enrolled in Medicare Advantage or Part D, review the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan sends each fall.
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period—also commonly called the Annual Enrollment Period—runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this period, people with Medicare can make certain changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage for the following year.
Don’t assume that the plan that works for you this year will automatically remain your best choice next year.
Special Note About Medicare Supplement Insurance in Minnesota
Minnesota’s Medicare Supplement rules differ from those used in most other states.
In addition to federal Medigap protections, Minnesota law provides state-specific Medicare Supplement enrollment and guaranteed-issue protections.
As of August 2026, Minnesota also has an annual Medicare Supplement open-enrollment opportunity for eligible Minnesota Medicare beneficiaries, subject to Minnesota law and applicable requirements.
Because Medicare Supplement rules can depend on your age, existing coverage, enrollment history and the timing of an application, don’t rely on Medicare Supplement information written for another state when making a Minnesota coverage decision.
Related: [Medigap – Medicare Supplement Insurance in Minnesota]
How YourMedicareMN Can Help
YourMedicareMN is an independent Minnesota insurance agency specializing in Medicare.
We can help you:
- Understand Medicare Parts A, B, C and D
- Identify important enrollment deadlines
- Understand Medicare and employer-coverage considerations
- Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Understand Minnesota Medicare Supplement options
- Compare plans offered by the insurance companies we represent
- Check prescription drug formularies
- Review provider networks
- Compare premiums and potential out-of-pocket costs
- Enroll in a Medicare plan you choose
- Review your coverage as your needs and available plans change
Our approach is education first.
Learn First. Decide With Confidence.
New to Medicare in Minnesota? Start Early
You don’t need to wait until the month you turn 65 to start preparing.
Starting early gives you time to understand Medicare, identify your enrollment deadlines and compare your coverage options without feeling rushed.
Schedule a no-obligation Medicare consultation with YourMedicareMN.
[Schedule a Medicare Consultation]
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting Medicare in Minnesota
What should I do first when I’m new to Medicare?
First, determine when you’re eligible for Medicare and whether you’ll be enrolled automatically. If you’re already receiving Social Security retirement benefits at least four months before turning 65, you generally will be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. Otherwise, you generally need to enroll through Social Security.
When is my Medicare Initial Enrollment Period?
For most people turning 65, the Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the three months afterward.
Special timing applies if your birthday is on the first day of a month.
Do I have to enroll in Medicare if I’m still working?
Not necessarily. If you or your spouse are actively working and you have qualifying group health coverage based on that current employment, you may be able to delay Part B.
Employer size and the type of coverage matter, so check how your employer insurance coordinates with Medicare before delaying enrollment.
Do I need Medicare Part D if I don’t take prescriptions?
You aren’t required to enroll in Part D simply because you turn 65. However, going 63 consecutive days or more without Part D or other creditable prescription coverage after the applicable enrollment period may result in a Part D late-enrollment penalty if you enroll later.
Can I have a Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plan at the same time?
No. Medicare Supplement insurance is designed to work with Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage.
Do I need Part A and Part B for Medicare Advantage?
Yes. You must have both Medicare Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan, and you continue paying your Medicare Part B premium.
Where do I enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B?
Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment is generally handled through the Social Security Administration, not through a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement insurance company.
How YourMedicareMN Can Help
✔ Walk you step-by-step through enrollment
✔ Compare Medicare plans in Minnesota
✔ Ensure your prescriptions and providers are covered
✔ Provide ongoing support after you enroll
Start your Medicare journey with confidence — schedule your free consultation today.
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For official Medicare information, visit the Medicare.gov website.