Your First Year on Medicare: Checklist
The first year on Medicare sets up everything that follows. Work through this checklist to lock in the right coverage, avoid penalties, and protect deadlines you only get once.
Get the foundation right
- Confirm your Part A and Part B effective dates. Check your Medicare card and account so you know exactly when each part started. Part A is usually premium-free; Part B costs $202.90 a month in 2026 for most people. If the dates look wrong, fix them before they ripple through everything else.
- Set up your online Medicare account at Medicare.gov. It is where you confirm coverage, track claims, view your plan, and print proof of enrollment.
Choose your coverage path
- Decide between Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy and Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan. These are two fundamentally different approaches to cost, networks, and flexibility. Compare them in our guide to Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement before you commit.
- Enroll in a Part D drug plan when you are first eligible, even if you take few or no medications. Waiting can cost you a lifelong Part D penalty of 1% of the national base beneficiary premium per month you went without creditable coverage.
Protect your one-time Medigap window
- Review your Medigap Open Enrollment window now. Your six-month guaranteed-issue period starts the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B — and you cannot get it back. Read Medigap open enrollment: your one-time window so you do not miss it.
Use your first-year benefits
- Schedule your Welcome to Medicare visit. This one-time preventive visit is available during your first 12 months on Part B at no cost when your provider accepts Medicare assignment. Use it to set a baseline and line up the screenings you qualify for.
Plan ahead for changes
- Mark the Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7. Each fall you can switch Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, with changes effective January 1. Review your plan's annual notice of change before the window opens so you are not caught off guard by new costs or dropped drugs.
Work through these items in order and you will have covered the decisions that matter most in year one. For a month-by-month view of the deadlines behind this list, see our enrollment timeline, and explore the full turning 65 hub for the rest of your transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when my Medicare starts?
Confirm your Part A and Part B effective dates on your red, white, and blue Medicare card or in your online account, then make sure your providers and pharmacy have the correct information. Getting these dates right anchors every other decision.
Do I need a Part D drug plan if I take no medications?
Usually yes. Going without creditable drug coverage when you are first eligible can trigger a lifelong Part D late-enrollment penalty of 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for each month you went without it. Enrolling in an inexpensive plan now protects you later.
What is the Welcome to Medicare visit?
It is a one-time preventive visit available during your first 12 months on Part B. It includes a review of your health history, screenings, and a personalized prevention plan, and it is covered at no cost when you see a provider who accepts Medicare assignment.
When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 every year. During this window you can switch Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, with changes taking effect January 1. Mark it on your calendar in your first year.
Talk to a Licensed Medicare Advisor
Get a free, no-obligation review of your Medicare options from a licensed advisor.
Get My Free ReviewThis information is for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Medicare rules, premiums, and income thresholds change annually — confirm current figures with Medicare.gov, the Social Security Administration, or a licensed advisor. HealthPlan Connect is not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program or any government agency. Last reviewed 2026-06-11 by Lynsey Brennan, Licensed Medicare Advisor (FL #G007269).