Smart steps to prepare for Medicare before you turn 65

I was running on autopilot when I signed up at age 65 for Social Security. I visited my local Social Security office to handle that — and when the friendly person behind the plexiglass barrier told me I was signing up for Medicare too, I said, "I am? Well, sure — why not?"

It turned out to be the right call. But once I was enrolled and started comparing Medicare Advantage plans and making other adjustments, I realized with some frustration that there were things I should have done before turning 65 — steps that would have made the whole process smoother and given me better options. Instead, I scrambled.

Here's what I wished I had done earlier — and what you should consider doing now, while you still have time.

Pick a Medicare-friendly primary care doctor you'll want to stay with for years to come

I had a primary care physician I was reasonably happy with before enrolling in Medicare. But once I was enrolled, I realized I actually preferred a different doctor — one who had treated me years earlier. Would he accept me as a Medicare patient? I called and, fortunately, the answer was yes. Transitioning to him as my primary care provider wasn't complicated, but it was entirely something I could have resolved earlier, well before the enrollment deadline was looming.

Line up specialists you will continue to use

Think carefully about any specialists your primary care doctor is likely to refer you to. If possible, visit them before you enroll in Medicare — and use those visits to get clarity on some important questions:

• Do you trust them, and are you confident in the quality of their care?
• For Medicare to pay for their services, does your primary care provider need to formally refer you?
• What copays will you owe per visit under various plan types?
• Can they deliver all the services your primary care provider will want you to receive — or will you need multiple specialists?
• If you're considering a Medicare Advantage or similar plan, are these specialists in the plan's network? This question cuts both ways — you want to know that your preferred providers accept your plan, and that your plan's network actually covers the kind of care you'll need.

Think about the convenience of the providers you will use

This is the step I most wish I had taken before enrolling in Medicare. Looking back, I now commute regularly to a large city to see two specialists my primary care physician referred me to — a logistical headache that a little upfront research could have helped me avoid. When you're evaluating specialists, factor in distance, travel time, and what that kind of commute will realistically look like over months and years of ongoing care.

Have a thorough exam and evaluation before you hit age 65

This may not be what you want to hear, but it's genuinely one of the most valuable things you can do. Discovering health issues early — high blood pressure, early-stage diabetes, elevated cholesterol — gives you more time to act, more options to consider, and, critically, more ability to line up the right specialists and referrals before you're enrolled in a plan that might not cover them. Avoiding health problems will not make them disappear. Catching them early, however, gives you the upper hand.

Do a thorough review of your prescription medications

Sit down with your prescribing physicians and go through your current medications deliberately. Ask whether any of your drugs are expected to become available as generics soon — or whether lower-cost alternatives already exist. This matters because some Medicare Part D and supplemental plans simply won't cover expensive brand-name "Tier 1" medications. When your previous employer-provided or individual health coverage ends and Medicare kicks in, certain drugs could suddenly become financially unmanageable if you haven't planned for it.

Carefully investigate a lot of private supplemental Medicare plans and pick one that best meets your needs