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What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare?

What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare?

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Last updated: 
April 10, 2026
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The short answer

First, sign up for Medicare Parts A and B at the right time. Second, decide whether to add a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap supplement plus Part D drug coverage. Third, review your coverage every fall during open enrollment to make sure it still fits.

The full explanation

Step one is enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B. Part A covers hospital stays and Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Most people enroll at 65, and you generally want to start this process about three months before your birthday month. You sign up through Social Security, either online, by phone, or in person. If you're still working and covered by a qualifying employer plan, the timing rules change, so check before assuming you can wait.Step two is deciding what goes around Parts A and B, because Original Medicare alone leaves significant gaps. You have two main paths. One is Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, which is an all-in-one private plan that usually includes drug coverage. The other is a Medigap policy, which fills the cost gaps in Original Medicare, paired with a separate Part D plan for prescriptions. Neither path is right for everyone. Your health, your doctors, your medications, and your finances all factor in.Step three is reviewing your coverage every year. Plans change. Drug formularies, which are the lists of covered medications, change. Premiums change. The annual open enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, and that's your chance to make adjustments without penalty.

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In 

Utah

 specifically

Utah residents can get free, unbiased help working through these steps from the Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC), which runs the state's SHIP counseling program. They won't sell you anything, and they know the local plan landscape well.

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What this means for you

For you, this means Medicare is a process with a sequence, and getting the timing right on step one protects you from penalties that can follow you for years.

Related Questions

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What is the most common mistake people make when first getting Medicare?

Do I need Original Medicare first before I can choose a plan?

Still have questions about Medicare?

Book a review with a licensed Medicare advisor.

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Medicare Advantage Plans in 

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Decision area Tool What it answers
Enrollment Initial Enrollment Period Calculator When your 7-month Medicare eligibility window begins and ends based on your 65th birthday
Enrollment When Should I Sign Up for Medicare? The best time to enroll based on your work status, other coverage, and age
Enrollment Special Enrollment Period Checker Whether a life event qualifies you for enrollment outside the standard windows
Enrollment Late Enrollment Penalty Checker How much extra you'll pay monthly if you missed your enrollment window
Enrollment Part B Penalty Calculator The exact 10%-per-year premium increase for delayed Part B enrollment
Enrollment Part D Penalty Calculator The 1%-per-month premium increase for gaps in creditable drug coverage
Costs Cost Scenario Planner Estimated annual spending across plan types at different health utilization levels
Costs Advantage vs. Medigap Cost Comparison True cost difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with Medigap
Costs IRMAA Calculator Whether your income triggers higher Part B and Part D premiums
Costs Part A Premium Estimator Your monthly Part A premium based on work history and quarters of coverage
Costs M3P Calculator How the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan smooths your drug costs into monthly payments
Coverage Doctor & Drug Assessment Whether your providers and prescriptions are covered by a specific plan
Coverage Part D Shopping Tool Which Part D plan has the lowest total annual cost for your specific medications
Coverage Travel & Network Risk Assessment How your coverage works outside your home area and which plan types travel best
Employer/COBRA COBRA vs. Medicare Why COBRA can trigger permanent Medicare penalties and how costs compare
Employer/COBRA Employer Coverage vs. Medicare Whether your employer plan or Medicare is primary and when to transition
Employer/COBRA HSA & Medicare Compatibility How Medicare enrollment affects HSA eligibility and what to do before enrolling
Planning Caregiver Readiness Checklist Whether you have everything in place to help a loved one with Medicare decisions
Planning Document Gatherer Which documents you need to have ready before enrolling or changing plans
Planning Medigap Fit Assessment Whether Medigap or Medicare Advantage is the better fit for how you use healthcare
Planning Medigap Open Enrollment Window Whether you're inside your one-time guaranteed issue window for Medigap
Planning Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Whether your income qualifies you for help paying Medicare premiums and cost-sharing

‍CMS TPMO Compliance Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

Participating sales agencies represent Medicare Advantage [HMO, PPO, PFFS, and PDP] organizations that are contracted with Medicare. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal.

Not Government Affiliated: Resting Sycamore Advisors is a licensed Medicare insurance agency. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

‍Data & Methodology for Research Articles: All provider, facility, quality star ratings, and enrollment data is sourced from primary CMS records (cms.gov), including the December 2025 CPSC Enrollment files and the January 2026 Provider Data Catalog. Calculations for patient-to-provider ratios are performed using indexed clinician and facility data. Everything on restingsycamore.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of any specific plan or provider.

Non-CMS Data Sources: Some  specific data was obtained from https://opendata.gov