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Medicare question

What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare?

First, sign up for Medicare Parts A and B at the right time. Second, decide whether to add a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap supplement plus Part D drug coverage. Third, review your coverage every fall during open enrollment to make sure it still fits.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Where this answer comes from, and what it can't tell you

Written from the published Medicare rules and the source material preserved for this question. It explains the topic in general terms. It is not a reading of your own coverage documents, not a prediction of how Medicare or a plan will decide a case, and not advice about a particular plan. Your current notice, policy, Evidence of Coverage, or formulary controls when it differs from a general explanation. Resting Sycamore is not Medicare.gov and is not endorsed by any government agency.

What determines the answer to “What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare”?

First, sign up for Medicare Parts A and B at the right time. Second, decide whether to add a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap supplement plus Part D drug coverage. Third, review your coverage every fall during open enrollment to make sure it still fits.

Which details can change the answer to “What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare”?

Step one is enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B. Part A covers hospital stays and Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Most people enroll at 65, and you generally want to start this process about three months before your birthday month. You sign up through Social Security, either online, by phone, or in person. If you're still working and covered by a qualifying employer plan, the timing rules change, so check before assuming you can wait.Step two is deciding what goes around Parts A and B, because Original Medicare alone leaves significant gaps. You have two main paths. One is Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, which is an all-in-one private plan that usually includes drug coverage. The other is a Medigap policy, which fills the cost gaps in Original Medicare, paired with a separate Part D plan for prescriptions. Neither path is right for everyone. Your health, your doctors, your medications, and your finances all factor in.Step three is reviewing your coverage every year. Plans change. Drug formularies, which are the lists of covered medications, change. Premiums change. The annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, and that's your chance to make adjustments without penalty.

For you, this means Medicare is a process with a sequence, and getting the timing right on step one protects you from penalties that can follow you for years.

What should you verify before acting on “What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare”?

Use the current Medicare handbook, official notices, and coverage documents to confirm the rule that applies. General education is a starting point, not a substitute for the document governing an individual situation.

Where should you look next?

All Medicare questionsBrowse the current question library by topic.Interactive Medicare toolsWork through dates, costs, and coverage details with the available calculators.Medicare doctor recordsCheck the provider and prescribing records currently published on Resting Sycamore.

What else do people ask about determines the answer to “What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare”?

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