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Navigating Medicare for loved ones

A nurse looks over a senior patient in a hospital bed

Annual enrollment coming soon.

Start planning today. Call 800-482-8163 (PA Relay 711).
Retired couple shopping for insurance online

Gather information

  • Learn about their medical needs and budget
  • Make a list of current prescriptions and doctors
  • Check to see if they’re eligible to enroll.
  • Speak with an advisor. Have your loved one’s Medicare ID number ready when you call.
     
A senior sitting at a desk with a laptop looks at his prescription bottle

Compare plans

  • Verify all costs and coverage
  • Make sure their doctors and prescriptions are included in the plan network
  • Compare the value of the plan against their budget and needs.
  • Consider whether they’d like personal support or service for their unique needs.
     
A senior couple stand at a home countertop looking at a tablet

Understand the difference between plans

To choose the right plan for your loved one, you need to understand how basic Medicare is different from Medicare Advantage.

Medicare (Original Medicare)

  • Part A covers hospitalizations and skilled nursing care.
  • Part B covers routine care, doctor visits and preventive care.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

  • Medicare Advantage plans like Geisinger Gold include Part A and Part B benefits — often with no or low monthly premiums — along with other benefits.
  • Limits out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Extra benefits include dental, vision, hearing and wellness services.
  • Prescription drug coverage (Part D) is included. Part D can also be purchased without Medicare Advantage as separate prescription drug coverage.

Understand enrollment periods

  • Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
    • Oct. 15 – Dec. 7
  • Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
    • Jan. 1 – March 31
    • Switch Medicare Advantage (MA) plans or revert to Original Medicare. Switching from Original Medicare to MA during OEP isn't allowed.
  • Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
    • Varies based on when your qualifying life event happens. It can occur at any point in the year, but the opportunity to change plans may be a short window.
    • For qualifying events like moving out of the current plan’s coverage area, changes to employer coverage or eligibility for programs like Medicaid or the prescription assistance programs PACE and PACENET.

Common questions when you shop for a loved one’s Medicare plan

What information do I need to enroll my parent in Medicare?

To enroll a parent in Medicare, you'll need their:

  • Medicare card or Medicare number
  • Social Security number
  • Date of birth
  • Current address and phone number

You should know:

  • All their doctors
  • Current prescriptions
  • Any other health coverage they have

If you're enrolling them in a Medicare Advantage plan, your parent will need to provide consent or be present during enrollment. A Geisinger Gold Medicare advisor can guide you through the process and explain what's needed at each step.

Can a Medicare advisor help me enroll my parent?

Yes, a Medicare advisor can help you enroll your parent. Geisinger Gold Medicare advisors can explain plan options, compare benefits and costs and walk you through the enrollment process. They can answer questions over the phone or meet with you and your parent in person. Your parent will need to provide consent or be present to complete enrollment in a Medicare Advantage plan.

How can I help my parent choose the right Medicare plan?

To help make the best decision:

  • Gather information about your parent’s current doctors, prescriptions and any health conditions they manage.
  • Ask about their budget and what benefits matter most to them, such as dental, vision or hearing coverage.
  • Compare plans to see which ones include their doctors in-network and cover their medications.
  • Review premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs together.

A Geisinger Gold Medicare advisor can help you and your parent compare options and find a plan that fits their needs.

Learn about Medicare

Eligibility

When you turn 65, you become eligible for Parts A and B. Understand enrollment periods and avoid penalties.

4 Parts of Medicare

Know your options for hospital stays, routine care, drug coverage and wellness benefits.

Enrolling

Easily navigate Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollment with this step-by-step guide.

Switching plans

Does your plan no longer meet your needs? Consider switching during key enrollment periods.

Tailored support and personalized attention

Talk to a Medicare advisor

Speak 1:1 with an advisor you can trust and ask about your health coverage options.

Attend an event

Prefer a face-to-face discussion? Come to one of our events and ask your questions in person.

Schedule a home visit

Make life simpler — enjoy the personalized convenience of having an advisor visit you at home.

Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and HMO D-SNP plans are offered by Geisinger Health Plan/Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company/Geisinger Quality Options, Inc., health plans with a Medicare contract. Continued enrollment in Geisinger Gold depends on contract renewal. Geisinger Health Plan, Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company, and Geisinger Quality Options, Inc. are part of Geisinger, an integrated health care delivery and coverage organization. Risant Health is the parent organization of Geisinger.

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