Resources
Your Dallas Medicare Checklist
Most Medicare headaches trace back to one missing detail: a prescription left off a list, a specialist nobody checked, an old employer letter that never got requested. Get organized first and the rest gets easier.
Work through this checklist before you compare a single plan. It takes about twenty minutes, and it is the exact list we use with clients from Oak Cliff to Lake Highlands.
- What to pull together before comparing plans
- Deadlines you cannot afford to miss
- Questions a good agent should answer without hesitating
Step 1
Pull your paperwork
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card, or your Social Security confirmation letter
- Your current insurance card and plan name, if you already have coverage
- Your Annual Notice of Change letter, if a plan mailed you one this fall
- A creditable coverage letter from an employer, TRICARE, or the VA
- A rough sense of household income, in case you qualify for Extra Help
Step 2
Write down what you actually use
Doctors and hospital
Primary care, every specialist, and the system you prefer, whether that's UT Southwestern, Baylor University Medical Center, or Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas.Prescriptions
Exact drug names, dosages, frequency, and the pharmacy you use. A photo of the bottles works fine if that's faster.Care you can already see coming
A scheduled surgery, physical therapy, or regular labs should steer which plan makes sense for next year.
Step 3
Know your dates
- Your 65th birthday and the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period built around it
- The date Part B starts, since that opens your 6-month Medigap window
- October 15 through December 7 for Annual Open Enrollment
- January 1 through March 31 if you're already on a Medicare Advantage plan
- Your last day of active employment, if you're delaying Part B
Not sure which window fits you?
Read Turning 65 if this is your first enrollment, or Switch Your Plan if you're already covered.
Step 4
Questions worth asking any agent
A local, independent agent should answer each of these without stumbling: Which carriers are you appointed with? Are my doctors in-network on this exact plan for next year, not last year? What will each prescription cost on this plan's formulary? What's my realistic total cost for the year, not just the monthly premium? What happens if I need to switch later?
Vague answers mean it's time to call someone else. Read about how we work or start with the FAQs.
Checklist finished? Let's compare plans.
Bring what you've gathered and we'll walk through the Dallas County plans we represent, matched against your doctors and prescriptions.