Enrolling in Medicare for the first time feels like a crash course for the whole family. Whether it’s you or your spouse — or you’re assisting your parents, grandparents or other loved ones, understanding what Medicare provides and what options are available is key to securing the right coverage.

Finding reliable information from official sources is important, too. But for those of us short on time, unfamiliar with the terminology or feeling daunted by the process, locating reliable information can be challenging.

To assist you, we’ve compiled this list of helpful Medicare resources.

The official Medicare website

Medicare.gov is the official U.S. government website for Medicare, and it’s where you can find virtually any piece of information about the program.

However, it’s a very large website with a lot of navigation options on the homepage. That’s perfect if you already know what you’re looking for, but it can be confusing if you’re new to the process. For starters, you and your family may want to review what Medicare covers,¹ paying particular attention to the explanations of what’s covered under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).

One element of Medicare’s appeal for older Americans is the savings it can offer people who must rely upon regular medication (e.g., insulin, blood pressure medication). Prescription medication is covered under Part D (Prescription Coverage), so the site’s section on that topic can help you understand Part D coverage² — and how Part D can work with other health insurance plans. You can also review more information on supplemental plans.³

» Tip: Prefer to answer a few questions and have suggestions offered to you? The Medicare.gov questionnaire⁴ can help you get started.

A useful tool: Medicare & You

Medicare.gov is also where you’ll find the comprehensive Medicare & You guidebook, covering enrollment options, the sign-up process, comparing plans and much more.

The free guidebook can be viewed online. Simply click the “Download PDF Handbook'' button on the publications page⁵ to see the entire 128-page booklet. You can then click the download button in your browser window to save the document to your computer.

For those who don’t have internet access or who need information in a different format, Medicare.gov provides the option to order physical copies⁶ of Medicare & You in a variety of languages,⁷ as well as in large print or Braille — even audio CDs are available.

» Tip: The large-print and alternative language versions can also be downloaded as PDFs to save, share and print. And you can listen to the audio version⁸ of the guidebook track-by-track online.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

If you’re surprised to see mention of the FTC in an article about Medicare coverage, then it might be time to have a frank conversation about elders and fraud.

Alas, scammers often target seniors, especially during Medicare open enrollment. The FTC warns your loved ones should never share personal information with someone who contacts them claiming to be from Medicare — even if they use the Medicare logo.

“As soon as they ask for your Medicare, Social Security or financial account numbers,⁹ you know it’s a scam,” according to a recent FTC bulletin on avoiding Medicare scams. Not sure if the Medicare resource you’ve found is reliable? Visit the FTC’s Health Insurance Scams page to learn how to protect your family.¹⁰

The RBFCU website and our local, licensed insurance agents

RBFCU is committed to providing members like you — and your loved ones — with the information you need during the enrollment process. You and your family can find answers to many commonly asked questions about Medicare on our website, along with helpful tips about making the enrollment process as easy as possible.

» Tip: Knowing what to avoid can save both money and hassles after open enrollment ends. Our team has created a concise article describing three common mistakes that enrollees make when they’re selecting their Medicare coverage.

Of course, at RBFCU we’re always ready to answer your family’s questions about Medicare Enrollment and coverage options. Our knowledgeable, licensed insurance agents are local and ready to help seniors get started with Medicare. They can also help review seniors’ enrollment options each fall to understand what any Medicare changes may mean for their coverage choices.

The takeaway

When you or your loved ones reach the age of Medicare eligibility, we’re standing by to help you identify the right coverage choices for you. Our licensed insurance agents support you through the process so you can feel confident in your Medicare enrollment.