Turning 65: Medicare Preparation Checklist

Estimated Time: 15–20 Minutes

Purpose:
Use this checklist to prepare for Medicare before your 65th birthday. Completing these steps ahead of time can help you feel more organized, ask better questions, and make more confident Medicare decisions.

Step 1 – Learn the Basics

Before comparing plans, make sure you understand the Medicare foundation.

I understand what Medicare is.

I understand the four parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D).

I understand the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

I understand what a Medicare Supplement plan is.

I’ve completed Lesson 1 of the Help465 Medicare Academy.

Medicare Advisor in South Florida

Step 2 – Know Your Timeline

Medicare enrollment depends on your individual situation.

I know when I turn 65.

Birthday:

I know when my Initial Enrollment Period begins.

I know when my Initial Enrollment Period ends.

I understand whether I may qualify for another enrollment period if I’m still working.

Help465 Heads-Up ⚠️

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Learning early gives you time to understand your options before important enrollment deadlines arrive.

Step 3 – My Healthcare Providers

Write down the healthcare providers that are important to you.

Primary Care Physician

Specialists

Preferred Hospital

Questions about my providers

Step 4 – My Prescription Medications

List every prescription medication you currently take.

Medication

Dosage

How Often?

Preferred Pharmacy

Need additional space?

Attach another page if necessary.

Step 5 – My Healthcare Priorities

Which of the following are most important to you?

Keeping my current doctors.

Predictable healthcare costs.

Lower monthly premiums.

Prescription drug coverage.

Dental benefits.

Vision benefits.

Hearing benefits.

Nationwide provider flexibility.

Traveling frequently.

Other

Medicare Minute

No two people have the same Medicare priorities.

Understanding what’s important to you makes comparing plans much easier.

Step 6 – My Questions

Write down every Medicare question you have.

Remember…

No question is too small.

Step 7 – Before I Enroll

Before making a Medicare decision, I have:

Compared my Medicare options.

Reviewed my doctors.

Reviewed my medications.

Compared my expected healthcare costs.

Asked questions I didn’t understand.

Reviewed my enrollment timeline.

Feel confident about my decision.

My Medicare Snapshot

Name

65th Birthday

Currently Working?

Yes

No

Current Health Insurance

Expected Retirement Date

Current Primary Care Physician

Current Pharmacy

Final Thoughts

Congratulations!

If you’ve completed this checklist, you’ve already done something many people never do…you’ve taken time to prepare before making important Medicare decisions.

That’s exactly what this checklist was designed to help you accomplish.

Remember:

Education comes before enrollment.

Preparation builds confidence.

Confidence leads to better decisions.

Need Help?

If you’d like personalized guidance based on your doctors, medications, healthcare priorities, and Medicare timeline, Help465 is here to help.

No pressure.

No confusing jargon.

Just honest guidance, trusted advice, and genuine care.

Help465 Medicare Planning Worksheet

Preparing for Your Medicare Appointment

Estimated Time: 10–15 Minutes

Purpose:
A productive Medicare appointment begins before you ever sit down with an agent. Use this worksheet to organize your information, identify your priorities, and prepare thoughtful questions so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Step 1 — My Appointment Information

Appointment Date

Appointment Time

Meeting Location / Phone / Video

Advisor or Agency

Medicare Advisor in South Florida

Step 2 — My Current Coverage

Current Health Insurance

Current Prescription Drug Coverage

Currently Receiving Social Security?

Yes

No

Currently Working?

Yes

No

Expected Retirement Date

Help465 Heads-Up ⚠️

Bringing accurate information to your appointment helps ensure the recommendations you receive are based on your actual situation—not assumptions.

Step 3 — What I Need to Bring

Before leaving for my appointment, I have:

My Medicare card (if applicable)

My driver’s license or photo ID

A list of my current medications

A list of my doctors and specialists

My preferred pharmacy

Information about my current health insurance

Any Medicare-related letters I’ve received

A notebook or something to take notes

Step 4 — My Healthcare Priorities

What’s most important to me?

Check all that apply.

Keeping my current doctors

Lower monthly premiums

More predictable healthcare costs

Prescription drug coverage

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Hearing benefits

Nationwide provider access

Traveling frequently

Other

Medicare Minute

The best Medicare appointment isn’t the one where you hear the most information.

It’s the one where you leave understanding your options.

Step 5 — Questions I Want Answered

Write down every question you’d like to ask.

Step 6 — Questions to Consider Asking

If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few helpful questions.

Will my doctors participate?

Are my medications covered?

What are my estimated healthcare costs?

What happens if my healthcare needs change?

What happens if I travel?

Does this plan include prescription drug coverage?

What extra benefits are included?

How often should I review my coverage?

Step 7 — After My Appointment

After meeting with my Medicare advisor, I understand:

My Medicare options

My enrollment timeline

My estimated healthcare costs

My provider options

My prescription drug coverage

Any next steps I should take

The questions I still need answered

My Notes

Reflection

Take a moment to think about your appointment.

Did you feel listened to?

Did you understand the explanations?

Were your questions answered clearly?

Did you leave feeling more confident than when you arrived?

If not, don’t hesitate to continue asking questions until you feel comfortable with your decision.

Final Reminder

A Medicare appointment shouldn’t feel rushed.

It shouldn’t feel confusing.

And it should never leave you feeling pressured.

The right conversation is one that helps you understand your options and make decisions that fit your own healthcare needs and goals.

That’s the standard every Medicare conversation should strive to meet.

Need Help?

Whether you’re meeting with Help465 or another Medicare professional, we hope this worksheet helps you prepare for a productive conversation.

Because better preparation leads to better questions.

Better questions lead to better decisions.

Help465 Medicare Planning Worksheet

My Medications & Pharmacy Planner

Estimated Time: 15–20 Minutes

Purpose:
Keeping an accurate list of your medications is one of the most important steps in preparing for Medicare. This worksheet helps you organize your prescriptions, pharmacies, and medication-related questions before comparing Medicare coverage or meeting with a Medicare advisor.

Step 1 — My Preferred Pharmacy

Primary Pharmacy

Address

Phone Number

Do I use Mail-Order Pharmacy?

Yes

No

If yes, which one?

Help465 Heads-Up ⚠️

Always bring an up-to-date medication list when reviewing Medicare plans.

Prescription drug coverage can vary from plan to plan, and having an accurate list helps ensure you’re comparing options based on your actual needs.

Medicare Advisor in South Florida

Step 2 — My Current Medications

Medication

Why I Take It

Dosage

How Often?

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

__________________

__________________

__________

__________

Need more space?

Attach another page if necessary.

Medicare Minute

Even one medication can make a difference when comparing Medicare prescription drug coverage.

An accurate medication list helps you make more informed decisions.

Step 3 — My Medication Changes

Have any of your medications changed during the past year?

Yes

No

If yes, describe the changes.

Step 4 — Medications I No Longer Take

Medication

Reason It Changed

Medication

Reason It Changed

Step 5 — Questions About My Prescriptions

Use this space to write down anything you’d like to ask your doctor, pharmacist, or Medicare advisor.

Step 6 — Medication Review Checklist

Before comparing Medicare plans:

My medication list is current.

I know the dosage for each medication.

I know how often I take each medication.

I know my preferred pharmacy.

I’ve written down any medication questions I have.

I’m prepared to review prescription drug coverage.

My Medication Snapshot

How many prescription medications do I currently take?

Do I take any specialty medications?

Yes

No

Do I regularly use over-the-counter medications?

Yes

No

Do I receive medication assistance from any program?

Yes

No

If yes:

Reflection

Think about your medication list.

Is it current?

Would someone else be able to understand it if they needed to?

Keeping an organized medication list isn’t only helpful when comparing Medicare plans…it can also be valuable during doctor visits, emergencies, or pharmacy consultations.

Final Reminder

Medication needs change over time.

Review this worksheet regularly and update it whenever your prescriptions change.

An accurate medication list helps support better conversations, better planning, and more informed Medicare decisions.

Need Help?

Your medications are an important part of choosing Medicare coverage.

When reviewing your options, Help465 can help you compare plans based on your actual prescription needs…not just general information.

Because every Medicare decision should be built around your healthcare…not someone else’s.

Help465 Medicare Planning Worksheet

My Doctors & Healthcare Provider Planner

Estimated Time: 15–20 Minutes

Purpose:
Your healthcare providers are one of the most important factors to consider when comparing Medicare coverage. This worksheet helps you organize your doctors, specialists, hospitals, and healthcare priorities before reviewing your Medicare options.

Step 1 — My Primary Care Physician

Primary Care Physician

Practice Name

Phone Number

Address

How long have I been seeing this provider?

Medicare Minute

For many people, keeping trusted healthcare providers is just as important as comparing monthly premiums.

Medicare Advisor in South Florida

Step 2 — My Specialists

Specialty

Doctor’s Name

How Often Do I Visit?

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

Need more space?

Attach another page if necessary.

Step 3 — My Preferred Hospitals

Hospital

Hospital

Urgent Care Center

Other Healthcare Facility

Help465 Heads-Up ⚠️

Before enrolling in a Medicare plan, always verify that your preferred doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare providers participate with the plan you’re considering.

Provider participation can change over time, so it’s important to confirm current information before making a decision.

Step 4 — My Healthcare Priorities

What’s most important to me?

Check all that apply.

Keeping my current primary care physician.

Keeping my specialists.

Access to a preferred hospital.

Nationwide provider flexibility.

Coordinated care.

Access to specialists.

Convenience of nearby providers.

Other

Step 5 — Providers I Would Like to Keep

If changing doctors would be difficult, list them here.

Step 6 — Questions About My Providers

Write down any questions you’d like answered.

Step 7 — Provider Review Checklist

Before comparing Medicare plans:

My provider list is current.

I know which providers are most important to me.

I’ve listed my preferred hospitals.

I’ve written down my provider questions.

I’m prepared to verify provider participation before enrolling.

My Healthcare Snapshot

How many doctors do I regularly see?

How many specialists?

Do I regularly travel outside my local area?

Yes

No

If yes, where?

Is keeping my current providers one of my highest priorities?

Yes

No

Reflection

Think about your healthcare needs.

Would changing doctors be easy…or difficult?

Which providers know your medical history best?

Understanding your priorities now can help you compare Medicare options more thoughtfully later.

Final Reminder

Your healthcare team may change over time.

Review this worksheet regularly and update it whenever you begin seeing a new provider, stop seeing a provider, or move to a new area.

An accurate provider list helps support better planning and more informed Medicare decisions.

Keep This Worksheet

Healthcare needs evolve over time.

Review and update this worksheet regularly…especially before your Annual Medicare Review, after changing providers, or whenever your healthcare needs change.

Keeping your information current makes future Medicare decisions easier and helps ensure you’re prepared for important healthcare conversations.

Help465 Medicare Planning Worksheet

Your Annual Medicare Review

Estimated Time: 15–20 Minutes

Purpose:
Your healthcare needs, prescription medications, and Medicare plan can change over time. Use this worksheet each year to review your current coverage, identify any changes, and prepare for your annual Medicare review.

Why Review Every Year?

Even if you’re happy with your current Medicare coverage, reviewing it annually is a smart habit.

A review doesn’t automatically mean you should change plans.

It simply helps ensure your current coverage still fits your healthcare needs.

Medicare Minute

Reviewing your Medicare plan each year isn’t about finding something wrong.

It’s about making sure it’s still the right fit.

Medicare Advisor in South Florida

Step 1 — My Current Medicare Coverage

Current Medicare Plan

Plan Year

Current Prescription Drug Plan (if applicable)

Review Date

Step 2 — What’s Changed Since Last Year?

Check all that apply.

I started seeing a new doctor.

I stopped seeing a doctor.

My primary care physician changed.

My specialists changed.

My medications changed.

I moved.

My health changed.

My financial situation changed.

Nothing significant has changed.

Other

Help465 Heads-Up ⚠️

Even small changes…such as adding a new medication or changing pharmacies…can affect how well your Medicare coverage fits your needs.

Step 3 — My Healthcare This Year

Approximately how many times did I visit:

Primary Care Physician

Specialists

Urgent Care

Emergency Room

Hospital

Step 4 — My Prescription Review

My medication list is current.

I started new medications.

I stopped taking medications.

My preferred pharmacy changed.

I experienced prescription cost concerns.

Notes

Step 5 — My Satisfaction Review

How satisfied am I with my current Medicare coverage?

Doctors

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Prescription Coverage

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Healthcare Costs

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Customer Service

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Overall Satisfaction

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

🎯 Real-Life Scenario

Elaine completed this review before her annual Medicare appointment.

She realized that although she liked her current plan, she had started taking two new prescription medications earlier in the year.

That simple observation gave her an important topic to discuss during her review.

Lesson: Sometimes the biggest benefit of an annual review isn’t changing plans…it’s confirming that your current coverage still meets your needs.

Step 6 — Questions for My Annual Review

Write down any questions you’d like to discuss.

Step 7 — Before My Annual Review

My doctor list is current.

My medication list is current.

I’ve reviewed my healthcare priorities.

I’ve written down my questions.

I’m ready for my Medicare review.

Reflection

Think about your healthcare over the past year.

What changed?

What stayed the same?

Did your Medicare coverage continue to meet your expectations?

If you could improve one thing about your healthcare experience, what would it be?

Sometimes the best outcome of an annual review isn’t making a change.

It’s gaining confidence that your current coverage is still serving you well.

Final Reminder

Healthcare isn’t static.

Your Medicare coverage shouldn’t be either.

Taking a few minutes each year to review your healthcare needs can help you stay informed, identify potential concerns early, and prepare for meaningful conversations about your coverage.

Keep This Worksheet

Complete a new copy of this worksheet every year.

Comparing one year’s worksheet to the next can help you recognize changes in your health, medications, providers, and priorities over time.

It’s a simple habit that can make future Medicare decisions easier and more informed.

Help465 Medicare Planning Worksheet

Helping Someone You Love with Medicare

Estimated Time: 15–20 Minutes

Purpose:
Helping a parent, spouse, family member, or friend navigate Medicare can feel overwhelming. This worksheet is designed to help you organize important information, prepare meaningful questions, and support someone you care about with confidence and compassion.

A Note Before You Begin

You don’t have to know everything about Medicare to be helpful.

Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is your time, your patience, and your willingness to learn alongside them.

This worksheet is here to help you do exactly that.

Medicare Minute

Supporting someone through Medicare isn’t about making decisions for them.

It’s about helping them understand their options so they can make informed decisions with confidence.

Medicare Advisor in South Florida

Step 1 — About the Person I’m Helping

Name

Relationship to Me

Parent

Spouse

Grandparent

Family Member

Friend

Other

65th Birthday (if applicable)

Currently Working?

Yes

No

Current Health Insurance

Step 2 — Their Healthcare Team

Primary Care Physician

Specialists

Preferred Hospital

Preferred Pharmacy

Help465 Heads-Up ⚠️

If possible, encourage your loved one to be involved in Medicare discussions and decisions. Their healthcare goals, preferences, and priorities should remain at the center of every conversation.

Step 3 — Their Healthcare Priorities

What matters most to them?

Keeping current doctors.

Lower monthly premiums.

Predictable healthcare costs.

Prescription drug coverage.

Dental benefits.

Vision benefits.

Hearing benefits.

Nationwide provider flexibility.

Traveling frequently.

Other

Step 4 — Questions We Want Answered

Write down the questions you’d like to discuss together.

Real-Life Scenario

Michael helped his father prepare for Medicare.

Instead of trying to make every decision himself, he sat down with his dad and completed a planning worksheet together.

They talked about doctors, medications, healthcare priorities, and the questions they wanted answered before meeting with a Medicare professional.

Their appointment became a conversation…not a rushed decision.

Lesson: Preparing together often leads to greater confidence and better communication.

Step 5 — Supporting the Conversation

Before meeting with a Medicare professional:

We’ve updated the medication list.

We’ve updated the doctor list.

We’ve discussed healthcare priorities.

We’ve written down our questions.

We’ve reviewed important Medicare dates.

We’ve gathered important documents.

Reflection

Helping someone with Medicare can feel like a big responsibility.

Remember…

You don’t have to know every answer.

Listening carefully.

Asking thoughtful questions.

Taking good notes.

Encouraging informed decisions.

Those are some of the most valuable ways you can help.

Final Reminder

Medicare is personal.

Every individual’s healthcare needs, financial situation, doctors, medications, and priorities are different.

Helping someone understand their options is often more valuable than trying to make the decision for them.

Keep This Worksheet

Save this worksheet and update it whenever your loved one’s healthcare needs, medications, doctors, or circumstances change.

Having organized information available can make future Medicare conversations easier, more productive, and less stressful.

Thank You

Helping someone navigate Medicare is an act of care.

Whether you’re supporting a parent, spouse, family member, or friend, your willingness to learn alongside them can make a meaningful difference.

Thank you for taking the time to help someone you love approach Medicare with greater understanding and confidence.

Because every informed decision begins with someone who cares enough to ask questions.