With Medicare open enrollment (Oct. 15-Dec. 7) upon us, knowledge and preparation are the keys to a less stressful season. One of the best ways to get ready is by setting up your account through the Medicare.gov website.

Not only does this serve as a resource for information regarding all facets of Medicare, it’s also a repository of searches, claims and usage histories, and is an easy way to monitor your healthcare activities. And this is a great tool for both beneficiaries and their caregivers alike.

A review of your healthcare needs should be done annually for a few reasons.

• Your health may change for better or worse, which could affect the specialists you need and the prescriptions you take.
• Your lifestyle may change, such as a move, financial challenges or an increase in the level of care. There are medical and pharmaceutical advancements that might be available that previously were not.
• Systematic changes are happening at the federal level which may affect your premiums and benefits. Having the right plans in place every year will ensure you’re fully covered.
• Johnson County’s SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) volunteer counselors can help you sort through these issues confidentially, for free, and with an unbiased approach.

If you’re new to Medicare and need to enroll in Parts A (hospital) and B (medical), the process must start through Social Security. If you haven’t received your Medicare card or have lost it, you can get this information by logging into your Social Security account online.

To create a Medicare.gov account, you’ll need:

• Medicare number
• Part A coverage start date
• Mailing address
• Date of birth
• Email address (optional)

Medicare.gov features include but are not limited to:

• Order or print replacement cards
• Review recently processed claims instead of waiting for your quarterly Medicare Summary Notices to arrive in the mail
• Sign up to go paperless
• Update your prescriptions and pharmacy list for annual Plan D (prescription drug insurance) comparisons
• Search for Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans that work for you
• Search for Medicare provider
• Verify what preventative services you’re eligible for
• Authorize permission for Medicare to speak with a family member or friend
• Review eligibility for cost-savings programs
• Use the Medicare Blue Button feature to securely download or share your personal healthcare information through Medicare connected apps
• Protect yourself from Medicare fraud, abuse and billing errors by closely reviewing claims and billed charges

If you need assistance with setting up your account, please contact the Johnson County SHICK program by either emailing at ahs-shick@jocogov.org or calling 913-715-8856.