5 Things to Do After You Get Your Medicare Card

Your Medicare card arrived in the mail. Now what?

Getting your Medicare card is an exciting milestone, but it is also the starting line, not the finish line. The decisions you make in the weeks after your card arrives can affect your health coverage and your costs for years to come.

Here are the five most important steps to take right away.

1. Confirm Your Coverage Start Date

Your Medicare card shows which parts of Medicare you are enrolled in and when your coverage begins. Check both:

• Part A (hospital insurance)
• Part B (medical insurance)

Most people get Part A and Part B automatically when they turn 65 if they are already receiving Social Security benefits. Your coverage typically starts the first day of the month you turn 65.

If you enrolled manually, your start date depends on when you enrolled during your Initial Enrollment Period.

Why this matters: If there is a gap between your previous insurance ending and your Medicare coverage starting, you need to know so you can plan accordingly.

2. Decide How You Will Get the Rest of Your Coverage

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is the foundation, but it does not cover everything. There is no cap on your out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare alone. Most people add one of two options:

Option 1: Medicare Supplement + Standalone Part D. A Medigap plan fills in the gaps, deductibles, Coinsurance, and copays. You pair it with a standalone Part D prescription drug plan. This combination gives you the most flexibility: any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare will accept your coverage, with no network restrictions.

Option 2: Medicare Advantage (Part C). Replaces Original Medicare through a private insurer. Most plans include drug coverage and some extra benefits. You generally pay lower premiums but are restricted to a network.

Critical deadline: Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins the month you turn 65 AND are enrolled in Part B, and it lasts only six months. Once that window closes, insurers can charge you more or deny coverage based on your health history. If you want a Medigap plan, apply during this window.

3. Enroll in a Part D Prescription Drug Plan

If you choose Original Medicare rather than Medicare Advantage, you need to separately enroll in a Part D plan for Prescription Drug Coverage.

Even if you take no medications right now, enrolling protects you from the Part D late enrollment Penalty: 1% of the national base beneficiary Premium ($38.99 in 2026) for every month you went without coverage, permanent for as long as you have Part D.

Use Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder tool to compare plans that cover your specific medications at the lowest total cost.

4. Set Up Your Medicare Account Online

Create an account at MyMedicare.gov. This gives you access to your Medicare Summary Notice (claims Medicare paid on your behalf), your current coverage information, drug plan comparisons, and your Part D spending toward the out-of-pocket cap.

5. Protect Your Medicare Number

Your Medicare card has your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). Treat it like a credit card number. Guard your card, never give your number over the phone unless you initiated the call, and review your Medicare Summary Notice regularly. Report suspicious charges to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Quick Summary

Not sure which Medicare coverage option is right for you? REMEDIGAP advisors can walk you through your choices at no cost.

Related Articles

• Medicare Enrollment – What You Need To Know.
• 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking a Medicare Plan
• Can You Get Medicare Without Social Security? Yes, Here’s How
• COBRA and Medigap: Key Differences You Need to Know
• Do You Have to Sign Up for Medicare at 65 If You’re Still Working? (2026 Update)