There are many different ways you can handle your Medicare insurance. You can go at it alone, monitoring your coverage and studying plans. Or, you can work with a licensed sales agent, who will help guide you to plans that fit your needs. Regardless of what option you go with, there are also a number of programs and websites out there that offer to help organize and manage your Medicare insurance. That said, when you find one of these services, do your research, because they’ll likely be asking for personal and medical information. Here are three examples of services that can be trusted with your information and can help you get the most out of your Medicare insurance.
MyMedicare
When you first sign up for Medicare, we urge you to create a MyMedicare account. Why? Through MyMedicare, you can save your health care information in a central location and be able to print it to quickly summarize your needs to your doctors. This is called an “On the Go Report,” and can also be downloaded on a smartphone, computer, or tablet. At the same time, the platform provides a place you can learn more about the Medicare program and its costs and coverage. You can also use MyMedicare to check on details of your Medicare insurance coverage for things like your Part B deductible and the current status of any appeals or claims. Finally, if you lose your Medicare insurance card or need a new one, you can print out of copy of your Original Medicare card.
Signing up for a MyMedicare.gov account is pretty simple. Navigate to the Registration page and fill out the form. To register your account, you’ll need your Medicare program number, your last name, zip code, and the date your coverage for Part A begins. This information can be found on your Medicare insurance card. The registration will also ask for an email address, but it’s not required if you don’t have one. Simply click the box that reads “I don’t have an email address.” Read the confirmation boxes and confidentiality agreement and certify that you’ve read both before heading to the next page. Here, you’ll create a username and password to finalize your account!
my Social Security
While not as directly connected with the Medicare program as the other entries in this article, creating a my Social Security account is wise for a number of reasons. Similar to how you can manage your Medicare insurance through a MyMedicare account, you can monitor your Social Security benefits, estimate future benefits, and update your personal information for your my Social Security account. Specific to Medicare, you can apply for Medicare through SSA.gov, even if you aren’t applying for Social Security. Also, if you lose your Medicare insurance card, you can request a replacement card through your my Social Security account.
Creating an account with SSA.gov is pretty straight forward. Unlike MyMedicare.gov, you’ll need to have a valid email address to create an account, and be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. mailing address, and a Social Security number. Additionally, you’ll be prompted to create a username and password for security reasons. SSA.gov uses a two-step verification for extra security and protection.
Shop & Enroll
Last, but not least, you can create an account with Shop & Enroll. Our Medicare Insurance Plan finder tool isn’t associated with the government. Instead of focusing on Original Medicare, Shop & Enroll can connect you with an insurance agent and help you find private Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medicare Supplement plans offered by insurance carriers. By creating an account, you can keep a history of your Medicare insurance plans, compare costs and plans’ benefits, and look ahead to what plans you may want in the future. Along with plan information, you can also input your primary care physician, hospitals, pharmacies, and personal health needs. This allows your agent to work with you to find plans that more closely fit your needs. To learn more about why you should create a Shop & Enroll account, check out our article announcing the enhancement.
Creating a Shop & Enroll account is incredibly simple. Once you receive an invite from your agent, or request one from them, you’ll be sent an email that leads to the registration page. From here, you’ll simply fill in your first and last name, your email address, phone number, and your address. You can also choose what type of communications you want to receive. After that, you’re done! Then you can go about filling in your account information and researching Medicare insurance plans near you.
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The Medicare program can seem complex, with a lot to learn and keep organized. Certain programs and sites can help you get the most out of your coverage and keep you from getting too wrapped up in the minutia. By using these three accounts together or on their own, you can keep yourself organized and prepared when it comes to your health care and your Medicare insurance.
