Our Services
Turning 65 Consultations
Turning 65 brings the biggest Medicare decision you'll make, and one of them — your Medigap window — can't be revisited. In a free consultation we map your Initial Enrollment Period (7 months — the 3 months before your 65th-birthday month, that month, and the 3 months after), explain Original Medicare versus Advantage in plain English, and build a plan around your doctors, drugs, and budget.
The roadmap we walk you through
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6 months before | Stop HSA contributions if you'll claim Social Security; check employer coverage rules |
| 3 months before | Enrol in Parts A and B for a clean start date |
| 2 months before | Compare plans against your doctors and drug list |
| 1 month before | Enrol in your plan; confirm the effective date |
| Birthday month | Coverage begins |
The decision that can't be undone
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts the 6 months that begin the month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B. During it you can buy any supplement sold in New Mexico with guaranteed acceptance. Afterwards, carriers can ask health questions and decline you.
That makes the Advantage-versus-Medigap choice at 65 weightier than it first appears, and it's the part we spend the most time on. See Medicare.gov's timing rules.
If you're still working
Employer coverage at a company with 20 or more staff usually lets you delay Part B without penalty, with a Special Enrollment Period of 8 months after the employment or the group coverage ends, whichever comes first afterwards. With a smaller employer, Medicare generally pays first and delaying is risky. Retiree coverage and COBRA don't count — Medicare.gov.
The HSA timing trap
You can't contribute to a Health Savings Account once enrolled in any part of Medicare, and Part A backdates up to six months when you claim Social Security after 65. Stop contributions six months ahead. You can still spend the balance tax-free, including on Medicare premiums.
What it costs to start
Part A is usually premium-free with 40 work quarters. Part B is $202.90 a month in 2026 with a $283 deductible (CMS), plus whichever plan you choose.
Booking a consultation
Fifteen minutes is usually enough to know which path fits. There's no cost and no obligation.
Not sure which of these fits you? A free 15-minute call with a licensed local advisor sorts it out — no pressure, and no cost to you. We do not offer every plan available in your area. For a complete list of every plan in your county, use Medicare Plan Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
What the consultation covers
A first call runs about fifteen minutes and follows the same shape every time.
- Your dates — birthday, Social Security plans, and any employer coverage.
- Your doctors and the hospital you'd want to use.
- Your prescriptions, with doses.
- How much you travel, and whether you spend part of the year elsewhere.
- Whether you'd rather pay steadily every month or pay as you use care.
From that we can usually tell you which path fits and what it would cost, and there is no obligation to do anything afterwards. If the answer is that your employer coverage is better than anything we could offer, we'll say so.
Questions, answered
When should I schedule my turning-65 consult?
About three months before your birthday month, so your coverage is ready the day you're eligible and you're not rushing the Medigap decision.
What if I'm still working at 65?
With 20 or more employees you can usually delay Part B safely and get a Special Enrollment Period of 8 months after the employment or the group coverage ends, whichever comes first. With a smaller employer, Medicare pays first and you generally need Part B at 65.
Can I change my mind later?
Plan choices change each Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). The exception is Medigap — your guaranteed window lasts the 6 months that begin the month you're 65 or older AND enrolled in Part B and doesn't return.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — When can I sign up for Medicare?
- Medicare.gov — When to buy a Medigap policy
- Medicare.gov — Working past 65
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
- Medicare.gov — When does Medicare coverage start?
Figures are current-plan-year and come from the official sources above. Plan-specific costs vary by county and carrier — confirm yours on Medicare Plan Compare or with a licensed agent.
Content reviewed by Brian Penner, Independent Medicare advisor — no pressure.