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New to Medicare

If you're retiring or nearing your 65th birthday, it's time to learn about Medicare.

 

Find the answers you need

If you’re eligible for Medicare, or soon will be, congratulations. To tailor coverage that fits your needs and budget, it’s important to understand your benefits.

Medicare provides valuable protection against high medical costs, but it doesn’t cover everything. We can help you make informed and confident Medicare choices.

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      Learn how Medicare works

      Follow these steps

      Step 1: Get to know Original Medicare

      Medicare is a government health insurance program for Americans who are 65 or older and younger people who have certain disabilities and receive Social Security benefits. Medicare was first created in two parts, Part A and Part B. Together, they’re called Original Medicare.

      Part A (Hospital coverage)

      Original Medicare

      Partial coverage for:

      • Inpatient hospital stay
      • Skilled nursing care
      • Hospice
      • Home care

      Part B (Medical coverage)

      Original Medicare

      Partial coverage for:

      • Doctors visits
      • Surgery
      • Lab tests
      • Medical equipment
      • Preventive exams

      Step 2: Learn how to cover what
      Original Medicare doesn't

      You can add additional coverage, which is offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, to help pay for costs that Medicare doesn’t cover.

      View our Medicare plans

      Part C (Medicare Advantage plans)

      Private insurers and health plans

      Similar to Parts A & B with predictable out-of-pocket costs and more coverage.

      Often fully covers:

      • Wellness services
      • Vision exams
      • Hearing exams
      • Dental exams (preventive and/or comprehensive)

      Often partially covers:

      • Eye glasses
      • Hearing aids

      Part D (Prescription Drug plans)

      Private insurers and health plans

      Helps with the cost of prescription drugs not covered by Original Medicare.

      Covers some:

      • Prescription drugs

      Step 3: Enroll at the right time

      Your Initial Enrollment Period into Original Medicare is a seven-month window — from three months before your 65th birthday month to three months after your 65th birthday month. Coverage can begin as soon as the first day of the month you turn 65.

      Learn more about Medicare enrollment

       

      Medicare enrollment timeframe graphic

      Enrollment order

      You must enroll in Original Medicare Part A and Part B before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) or Part D prescription drug plan.

      Social Security benefits

      If you already receive Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.

      Disabled and under 65

      If you are disabled and under 65, you will get Part A and Part B automatically after you’ve received disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months.

      Working past 65

      If you or your spouse plan to work past age 65, you may not need to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65.

      Step 4: How to enroll in a Blue Cross Medicare plan

      You can choose how you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Medicare Cost or Part D Prescription Drug plan.

      Learn more about enrolling in a plan

      Support and resources

      It doesn't have to be hard

      Our Blue Cross Advisors are here to:

      • Help you learn about Medicare basics and our plans
      • Assist you in finding a plan that meets your needs
      • Help you enroll in a plan
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      Free Medicare Workshops

      Join us for a free, no obligation, in-person or virtual Medicare workshop to learn about Medicare and available plans based on the county you live in.

      Enroll today

      Blue Cross offers Cost, PPO, and PDP plans with Medicare contracts. Enrollment in these Blue Cross plans depends on contract renewal.

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