Free Medicare Checklist for NJ Residents
Turning 65 in New Jersey?
Here's exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to avoid the costly mistakes most people make when enrolling in Medicare for the first time.
Critical: You have a 7-month enrollment window
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) opens 3 months before your birthday month and closes 3 months after. Missing this window means penalties that last for the rest of your life. Don't wait.
Your Medicare Enrollment Timeline
Follow these steps in order — timing matters.
3 months before your 65th birthdayAction Required
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) opens
This 7-month window is your best chance to enroll without penalties or waiting periods. It starts 3 months before your birthday month.
The month you turn 65Action Required
Enroll in Medicare Parts A & B
If you're not already on Social Security, you need to actively sign up at SSA.gov or through a licensed advisor. Don't miss this window.
Same time as Part B enrollment
Choose Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
This is the most important decision. Do you want the freedom of any Medicare-accepting doctor nationwide (Original), or a more managed plan with extra benefits (Advantage)?
If choosing Original Medicare
Add a Medigap plan and Part D drug plan
Original Medicare covers 80% — a Medigap policy covers the remaining 20% with no networks. You must also add a Part D plan for prescription drug coverage.
3 months after Part B enrollmentAction Required
Your IEP closes — act before this date
If you miss your IEP and don't have other qualifying coverage, you face permanent late enrollment penalties on Part B (10% per year missed).
The 5 Decisions Every New
Medicare Enrollee Must Make
In roughly this order — each decision affects the next.
Part A — Hospital Insurance
Learn moreMost people pay $0. Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice, and home health care.
Enroll automatically (if on Social Security) or manually at SSA.gov.
Part B — Medical Insurance
Learn more$185/month standard premium (2025). Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment.
Enroll actively — don't miss your IEP window. Late enrollment = permanent 10% penalty per year.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) — OR — Original Medicare + Medigap
Learn moreThe biggest decision. Advantage: lower premiums, network-based, extra benefits. Original + Medigap: higher premiums, no networks, predictable costs.
Talk to a licensed advisor who can compare both side-by-side for your specific situation.
Part D — Prescription Drug Coverage
Learn moreIf you choose Original Medicare, you need a standalone Part D plan. Most Advantage plans include drug coverage already.
Compare formularies to make sure your current medications are covered.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement)
Learn moreFills the 20% gap Original Medicare leaves. Plan G is the most comprehensive option for new enrollees in NJ.
Buy during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period to avoid medical underwriting.
6 Costly Mistakes to Avoid
These are the most common errors new Medicare enrollees make — and how to avoid them.
Missing your Initial Enrollment Period
A permanent 10% penalty is added to your Part B premium for every 12-month period you were eligible but not enrolled — unless you had qualifying coverage through active employment at a company with 20 or more employees (or through a spouse's employer of that size).
Assuming Medicare covers everything
Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. Part B typically costs you 20% per service; Part A charges a deductible per benefit period — not per hospital stay. Without a supplement or Advantage plan, costs are uncapped.
Forgetting Part D if you take medications
Going more than 63 consecutive days without creditable drug coverage triggers a permanent penalty of 1% of the national base premium per uncovered month — added to your Part D premium for life.
Not understanding primary vs. secondary payer rules
If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare becomes your primary payer and employer coverage is secondary — meaning the employer plan may cover very little. A licensed advisor can explain how the rules apply to your specific situation.
Choosing a plan based on premium alone
A $0 premium Advantage plan can cost more overall if it has high copays, narrow networks, or restricts access to your current specialists. Total out-of-pocket exposure matters more than the monthly premium.
Not working with a licensed Medicare advisor
Licensed Medicare advisors are compensated by insurance carriers — there is no charge to you, and that compensation does not affect your plan premium. An independent advisor can compare all available options in your area.
Still Have Employer Coverage at 65?
If you (or your spouse) are still actively working and have employer health coverage, you may be able to delay Medicare enrollment without penalty. When that coverage ends, you get a Special Enrollment Period to sign up. But the rules are specific— COBRA and retiree coverage don't qualify as “active” employer coverage. A licensed advisor can confirm whether your situation qualifies.
Let a Licensed Advisor Handle It — Free
Turning 65 is confusing. Our licensed NJ Medicare advisors compare every plan available in your ZIP code, explain your options in plain English, and handle enrollment — at absolutely no cost to you.