Resources
Your Medicare Checklist for Tucson, AZ
A good Medicare choice starts with good information. Almost every mess we help untangle in Pima County started the same way: a prescription left off a list, a specialist nobody double-checked, a letter from HR that never got requested.
Run through this checklist before comparing plans. It takes about twenty minutes, and it's the exact list we use sitting across the table from clients in Tucson, from Casas Adobes to Vail.
- What to gather before you compare plans
- Deadlines that shouldn't slip
- Questions worth asking any agent
Step 1
Round up your documents
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card, or your Social Security confirmation letter
- Your current insurance card and plan name if you're covered right now
- Your Annual Notice of Change letter, if a carrier mailed one this fall
- A creditable coverage letter from an employer, TRICARE or the VA, including Davis-Monthan retiree benefits
- A rough idea 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 whether you lean toward Banner University Medical Center, TMC HealthCare or Northwest Medical Center.Prescriptions
Exact drug names, dosages, how often you take them, and the pharmacy you use, whether that's on Oracle Road or Broadway. A photo of the bottles works fine.Expected care
A knee replacement on the calendar, ongoing physical therapy or regular labs should steer which plan makes sense.
Step 3
Mark your dates down
- 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 for group coverage
Not sure which window fits you?
Read Turning 65 if you're new, or Switch Your Plan if you're already enrolled.
Step 4
Questions worth asking any agent
An independent agent should answer every one of these without stalling: Which insurance companies are you licensed with? Are my doctors, including anyone at Banner or TMC, in-network on this plan for next year? What will each of my prescriptions cost on this plan's formulary? What's my real total cost for the year, not just the monthly premium? What happens if I need to switch later?
If the answers are vague, keep looking. You can read about how we work or start with the FAQs.
Checklist finished? Let's compare plans.
Bring what you've put together and we'll line up the plans we offer across Pima County side by side, then explain which ones actually fit your doctors and prescriptions.