Plan-comparison preparation

Medicare Plan Verification Checklist

Prepare before using Medicare Plan Finder, calling SHIP, speaking with a licensed agent, comparing plan documents, or enrolling.

No plan, carrier, provider, or medication names are stored. Mark each category confirmed, unconfirmed, or not applicable. This checklist does not rank Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Part D options.

Effective year: 2026 where dated federal figures are used. Policy and source review: July 12, 2026. Verify current official rules before acting.

Verification progress

0 of 12 confirmed

Unconfirmed items are questions to take to Medicare Plan Finder, SHIP, the plan, provider, or pharmacy—not automatic reasons to reject a plan.

Doctors and hospitals

Preferred doctors, specialists, and hospitals were checked

Confirm directly with the provider and the plan; a directory alone may be outdated.

Travel, second-home, and out-of-area care needs were reviewed

Compare routine, urgent, emergency, and follow-up rules outside the service area.

Prescriptions

Every recurring prescription was checked on the current formulary

Confirm tier, restrictions, alternatives, quantity limits, and effective date.

Preferred and mail-order pharmacy rules were compared

Verify retail, preferred, standard, specialty, and mail-order pricing.

Plan rules

Prior authorization, referral, and step-therapy rules were reviewed

Use the Evidence of Coverage and ask how active authorizations transfer on January 1.

Costs

Premium, deductible, copays, coinsurance, and worst-year exposure were compared

Use the Annual Notice of Change, Evidence of Coverage, and Medicare Plan Finder.

Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket exposure was identified

Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum unless supplemental coverage applies.

Coverage structure

Medigap availability and underwriting or guaranteed-issue questions were verified

Rules vary by timing and state; do not assume a future switch is guaranteed.

Supplemental benefits

Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, food, fitness, and allowance limits were read

Confirm provider network, dollar cap, frequency, exclusions, and whether the benefit changes next year.

Annual changes

The Annual Notice of Change was reviewed

Compare next year's premiums, cost sharing, network, formulary, authorization, and benefits.

Independent help

SHIP or another independent verification resource was considered

SHIP provides free state-based Medicare counseling; licensed agents may represent a limited set of plans.

Enrollment

The correct enrollment period and effective date were confirmed

Use Medicare.gov, Social Security, SHIP, and the official plan enrollment confirmation.

Official verification

Medicare Plan FinderOfficial plan comparison, drug, pharmacy, and estimated-cost tool.Find local SHIP counselingFree state-based Medicare counseling and assistance.Medicare coverage choicesOfficial overview of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage choices.Turning 65 timelineConnect enrollment timing, employer coverage, HSA, Part D, Medigap, and IRMAA questions.

Save the Medicare verification step

Only the fixed Medicare-program review action is saved. Checklist statuses and plan-comparison details are not stored in My Plan.

Action: Use the Medicare and Medicaid eligibility pathway

Open My Plan

Educational only. Community Acquired Finance provides general educational information only. It is not financial, investment, tax, legal, insurance, medical, billing, employment, or benefits advice, and its tools do not make official eligibility, coverage, authorization, tax, billing-liability, or plan determinations. Estimates may be incomplete, outdated, or inapplicable to a specific person, plan, state, employer, provider, or claim. Verify important details with current official sources, controlling documents, government agencies, insurers, employers, billing offices, and qualified professionals.