After you enroll in Medicare, you receive a welcome packet with information such as your Medicare card. You also have some important decisions to make about additional coverage.

It’s a great idea for a new Medicare enrollee to learn how Medicare works and the interactions of its parts.

Consider familiarizing yourself with the key parts of Medicare:

With a solid understanding of the Medicare system, you can make educated decisions and ensure that your coverage aligns with your health and financial goals.

Medicare can be complex. If you want help understanding your options and deciding what’s best for you, consider speaking with a professional.

You can get free, unbiased Medicare counseling from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

This article discusses what to expect in the weeks after signing up for Medicare and what steps you can take to get the best coverage.

Within a couple of weeks of signing up for Medicare, you receive a “Welcome to Medicare” packet that contains a:

  • letter introducing you to the Medicare program
  • booklet with your coverage details
  • Medicare card

Your Medicare number is on your Medicare card and account. Healthcare professionals, insurers, and certain government agencies require your Medicare number to identify you and ensure you get the appropriate care.

You also need your number to join a Medicare plan and buy Medicare supplement insurance.

Once you sign up for Original Medicare (parts A and B), you can decide whether to add additional coverage. Your options include:

  • switching to a Medicare Advantage plan
  • adding Part D prescription drug coverage
  • including Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap)

Medicare Advantage plans are available from private insurance companies. These plans include the same benefits as Original Medicare but offer extra coverage for other medical necessities, such as dental, vision, and hearing care.

Medicare Advantage plans vary by location and provider. You can search for and compare plans on Medicare.gov.

If you want to keep Original Medicare, you have a few options for adding extra coverage. You can sign up for a stand-alone Part D plan to add coverage for prescription drugs.

You can also sign up for a Medigap plan to help cover the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare. Consider signing up for a Medigap plan within 6 months after your Part B coverage begins to get the most plans at the best prices.

Knowing when your coverage starts is critical after enrolling in Original Medicare. The timing of your coverage initiation depends on when you sign up.

If you sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period but before the month of your 65th birthday, your coverage begins at the start of your birth month.

If you sign up during or after the month you turn 65 years old, coverage begins at the start of the next month.

Once your coverage begins, consider contacting your healthcare professionals and pharmacy to update them on your new insurance.

If you sign up for Medicare Part B, you qualify for a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit during your first 12 months of coverage.

It’s a free, comprehensive visit that includes:

  • a review of your health history
  • educational material on vaccines and other preventive services
  • body measurements
  • necessary referrals
  • a mental health evaluation
  • a written medical plan

However, the Welcome to Medicare visit isn’t a physical.

Review your policy documentation to understand all facets of your coverage when you finalize your plans.

Look at what benefits you can receive, the costs you need to pay, and the coverage limitations.

Doing so can help you get the most out of your Medicare coverage and prepare for costs ahead of time.

After enrolling in Medicare, you receive some vital information. You also have to make some decisions about your coverage.

Watch for your Medicare welcome packet in the mail and review its documents. Read up on how Medicare works to help you make coverage choices that are right for you.

Once you finalize your coverage, update your healthcare professionals on your new insurance details, and schedule your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit, if you have Part B.

Contact your local SHIP for free Medicare counseling if you have questions.