Learn About Your Medicare Options for 2024:

Enrollment & Eligibility for Medicare in San Diego

It is important for you to understand exactly when you are eligible to enroll in Medicare and make a plan to sign up. The following page will outline the initial enrollment period for Original Medicare and the process to enroll in Original Medicare.

We will then dive into additional benefits to your Original Medicare Parts A and B by enrolling in either Supplement Insurance or an Advantage plan. At the end we will walk through how to enroll in a plan that will cover the costs for your prescription drugs.

https://www.medicare.gov/ is another great resource.

Are you ready to enroll in Medicare insurance? Start with a quote and our Medicare plan team will answer any questions you have to start your enrollment.

When am I eligible for San Diego Medicare?

You are eligible for Original Medicare Parts A + B if you are at least 65 years old.

… or if you are under 65 and specially qualify because of a disability.
… and you are a U.S. Citizen or legal resident.
… and you have been living in the United States for at least 5 years straight.

 

When you turn eligible for Medicare you are also eligible to enroll in Supplement Insurance plans, Advantage plans, and Part D Prescription Drug plans all through the Medicare system. Contact us for details on Medicare enrollment options.

When is Medicare Initial Enrollment Period?

Your Initial Enrollment Period or IEP is 7 months long. This period includes your birthday month, the 3 months prior to your birthday month, and the 3 months after. During this time you can enroll in Original Medicare’s Part A, Part B, or both.

During these 7 months you can also join a Medicare Advantage Plan (also called Part C) or a Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). Supplement Insurance is also available for you to choose from during this Initial Enrollment Period.​

*Note: The IEP begins and ends 1 month earlier if you are born on the 1st of the month.

Is there a Special Enrollment Period?

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to enroll in a Medicare plan outside of these months listed above.

Here are ways you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period:

– Retire and lose your employer coverage
– Move out of your plan’s service area
– Receive Assistance from the state
– Have been diagnosed with certain disabilities
– Have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition
– Qualify for Extra Help

The 2 Most Common Original Medicare Enrollment Mistakes

1. Not Enrolling On Time

Eligible members have 3 months prior to their birthday month to enroll in Original Medicare which is plenty of time. Still, it seems to slip a lot of people’s minds so it is a best practice to jump on this process as soon as you can.

After enrolling in Original Medicare, the Social Security Administration office is responsible for processing and sending you your new Medicare number in the mail. You are unable to sign up for a Supplement or Advantage plan without this Medicare number.

When thinking about enrolling, remember to account for the time it takes to process the enrollments.

2. Forgetting to Enroll in Both Parts A and B

If you plan on enrolling in an Advantage or Supplement plan, you’ll need to enroll in both Parts A and B. If you are currently enrolled in a health insurance plan through your employer, the Social Security Administration may suggest to you that you should only enroll in Part A but not Part B.

This is true ONLY IF you wish to continue your employer sponsored insurance even though you are Medicare eligible. If you plan to stop your employer sponsored insurance now that you have a Medicare plan, you will want to enroll in both Parts A and B so you can complete your Supplement or Advantage enrollment.

2 Main Steps of Medicare Enrollment

Step 1 is to enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B through Medicare.gov.

This process is often as easy as answering a few questions and selecting your enrollment. However, many people are not able to enter the site for a few days if not weeks.

Furthermore, it takes the Medicare team at the Social Security Offices a few weeks to create and send you your Medicare number. Complete step 1 early in your 7 month initial enrollment period to ensure you do not run out of time.

HealthyMarks recommends that you sign up for Original Medicare with us. Our team can help you navigate through the complexity of getting your Medicare Number. It is often best to start the process with a professional instead of trying to do it on your own. Start your Medicare quote here.

Step 2 is to pair your Original Medicare with additional coverage in the form of Supplement Plans, Advantage Plans, and Part D Prescription Drug plans.

HealthyMarks is your best resource to evaluate these plans and enroll in them. We are ready to help!

Original Medicare with Supplement Insurance or an Advantage Plan

Understanding your services and what will be covered with your Medicare Plan is essential to understanding your benefits and making a smart decision about your new health insurance Medicare plan here in San Diego. For this reason let’s take a look at Original Medicare, how to enroll, and why pairing it with Supplement Insurance or an Advantage Plan will make sure your Medicare package is complete.

About Original Medicare – Part A & Part B

Part A is most commonly paired with Part B to complete Original Medicare. Part A covers hospital stays and inpatient care. Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care.

Part A is considered “entitled” while the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B will be $174.80 for 2024.

Supplement Insurance and Medicare Advantage Plans are built to cover the gaps in your Original Medicare. For example if you enroll in Part A and Part B of Original Medicare, you will have access to doctors and they will provide you with services but you will have a very large deductible.

The Part A deductible is $1,600 in 2024. If you go ahead and pair your Original Medicare with a Supplement Insurance plan or an Advantage Plan you will be able to reduce that deductible to only a couple hundred dollars.

Supplement Plans Overview

A Supplement Plan will provide you access to any doctor throughout the United States. You can think of a Supplement Plan as a really robust PPO plan with access to every doctor in America for an in-network cost.

Advantage Plans Overview

An Advantage Plan will make you sign up for a San Diego network of doctors. Although you have emergency care worldwide, you can think of an Advantage Plan as having an HMO network of doctors that you need to stay within to make sure your care is handled a proper out of pocket cost for you.

Should I pair Original Medicare with a Supplement Plan or Advantage Plan?

Yes! You should absolutely pair your Original Medicare Plan with additional coverage. Do not sign up for Original Medicare and think you have completed the process. You will be much better off if you pair it with one of the strategies above.

Do not go this decision alone. HealthyMarks Medicare is a team of professionals who excel at helping new Medicare members better understand their options. Our team wants to help you so you can select the best plan for you and your family.

We offer all the best plans from all the best San Diego carriers. Our team is excited to talk to you about your medical needs and do not hesitate to give us a call so we can provide you with any information you need to select the best Supplement Plan or Advantage Plan here in San Diego.

About Supplement Insurance

Supplement Insurance is the more expensive option because of that robust network of nationwide doctors. You’ll also need to purchase additional prescription drug coverage in the form of a Part D plan to complete your coverage.

Click to view all insurance carriers offering Supplement Insurance and Advantage Plans in San Diego.

Supplement Insurance is often the most popular because you’ll have access to all the major San Diego doctor networks like Scripps, Sharp, and UCSD. You’ll also have nationwide access to doctors at an in network cost.

After you pay your small deductible, your Supplement Insurance plan will cover almost all of your medical costs. You can be confident because you have the best health insurance available to you.

About Advantage Plans

Advantage Plans are usually a lot less expensive each month in premiums compared to Supplement Plans. Advantage Plans allow the carriers to get creative to offer unique solutions to their services so they can better serve you and save money. Those savings by the insurance carrier are passed along as monthly premium savings to you the insured.

Advantage Plans are also unique because they bundle dental and vision services as well as your prescription drug services into one plan offered by one insurance carrier. An Advantage Plan offers a one stop shop for all of your medical needs for only a few dollars a month.

Read FAQs About Medicare Enrollment in San Diego

FAQs About Medicare Enrollment & Eligibility

  • Medicare Enrollment
  • Medicare Eligibility
  • General Plan Info
Expand All | Collapse All
  • 1. How do I get my Medicare Number?
     

    After you enroll in Original Medicare, you'll receive your Medicare number in the mail. This can take up to 3 weeks for the Social Security Office to process your application and send you your Medicare number.

    You can also login to your social security account and view your Medicare number there.

    Enroll in Original Medicare here: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/

    More
  • 2. Should I enroll in Medicare by myself or with the help of a broker?
     

    I encourage you to enroll with the help of a Medicare broker like HealthyMarks Medicare. Although you can do it alone, there are no drawbacks to working with a broker. Our expertise and experience will prove valuable to you during the enrollment process and during your ongoing coverage. The services offered by our team are free to you because insurance companies have agreed to pay commissions to brokers to help people like you enroll.

    More
  • 3. What’s the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
     

    Medicare is a federal government-sponsored healthcare program for those 65 and over, and for younger people who are disabled.

    Medicaid, or Medi-Cal in California, is a healthcare program for low-income individuals who could not otherwise afford health insurance.

    More
  • 4. Should I stick with my Large Group Employer health insurance policy or switch to Medicare?
     

    Large Group Employers have access to health insurance plans that the rest of us do not. Many of the large group plans have what is called “Composite Rating.” Or in other words, these plans do not get more expensive when you get older. You will pay the same as a younger employee.

    Because of this, some of these large group employer plans are competitive with the Medicare plans in San Diego.

    You should evaluate both and select the better insurance plan.

    To learn more about comparing Medicare plans, click here.

    More
  • 5. Should I still switch to Medicare even if my family is covered by my insurance plan?
     

    Having a spouse as a dependent on your group insurance plan may impact whether or not you switch to Medicare. When you enroll in Medicare, your spouse can then enroll in his/her own individual market health insurance plan because losing insurance is a “qualifying event” to switch to a new plan. However, maybe your spouse doesn’t want to make that switch or your employer is contributing towards both you and your dependent’s insurance premiums. In this scenario, consider speaking with a HealthyMarks professional for a Plan Evaluation.

    You should evaluate both options and select the better option for you and your family.

    To learn more about the evaluation of group insurance vs Medicare, click here.

    More
  • 6. Should I stick with my group health insurance policy or should I switch to Medicare?
     

    Typically, Medicare pricing is much better than what is available to employees through their work. Medicare plans are generally much less expensive because the government is helping pay the monthly premium. Furthermore, these Medicare plans are very well received by the members who enroll in them. Members often experience less out of pocket expenses when on Medicare.

    You should evaluate both options and select the better insurance plan.

    To learn more about the evaluation of group insurance vs Medicare, click here.

    More
  • 7. Should I stick with my current Individual Health Insurance policy or switch to Medicare?
     

    Typically, Medicare pricing is much better than what is available to employees through their work or what is available on the individual market. Medicare plans are generally much less expensive because the government is helping pay the monthly premium. Furthermore, these Medicare plans are very well received by the members who enroll in them. Members often experience less out of pocket expenses when on Medicare.

    You should evaluate both and select the better insurance plan.

    More
  • 8. Should I switch to Medicare or Should I stay with the insurance I currently have in San Diego?
     

    Typically, Medicare pricing is much better than what is available to employees through their work or what is available on the individual market. Medicare plans are generally much less expensive because the government is helping pay the monthly premium. Furthermore, these Medicare plans are very well received by the members who enroll in them. Members often experience less out of pocket expenses when on Medicare.

    You should evaluate both and select the better insurance plan.

    More
  • 9. If I am Medi-Cal eligible, are there certain Medicare plans that I should look at?
     

    Yes, there are special plans for people who are both Medicare and Medi-Cal eligible. These individuals are considered "dual eligible". You can check your eligibility status here.

    For example, SCAN offers the Scripps Plus Advantage plan in San Diego. "Scripps Plus with Medicare and Full Medi-Cal Eligibility" offers the plan at a better monthly premium compared to "Scripps Plus with Medicare Only".

    More
  • 10. When am I eligible for Medicare?
     

    You are eligible for Original Medicare Parts A + B if you are at least 65 years old.

    … or if you are under 65 and specially qualify because of a disability.
    … and you are a U.S. Citizen or legal resident.
    … and you have been living in the United States for at least 5 years straight.

    Learn more about your eligibility for Medicare here.

    More
  • 11. Am I able to enroll in Medicare at any point of the year?
     

    No, there are certain times when you are eligible to enroll in Medicare

    Your Initial Enrollment Period or IEP is 7 months long. This period includes your birthday month, the 3 months prior to your birthday month, and the 3 months after. During this time you can enroll in any Medicare product.

    Open Enrollment is your other option to enroll or switch plans. The Open Enrollment Period last from October 15 to December 7 each year. You can join, switch, or drop a plan. Your coverage will begin on January 1.

    The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is from January 1 to March 31 each year. if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan) once during this time. Note: You can only switch plans once during this period.

    More
  • 12. Can I get dental, vision, and hearing insurance coverage through Medicare?
     

    Yes, when you enroll in Medicare, you will have the opportunity to pair additional benefits like dental insurance, vision insurance, and hearing aids.

    Many Advantage plans offer these additional benefits at no additional cost while Supplement plans often require you to pay extra for these additional benefits.

    More
  • 13. Do I get access to SilverSneakers when I enroll in Medicare?
     

    In San Diego, Anthem, Aetna, Blue Shield, and SCAN all offer Silver Sneakers as a free benefit for their Medicare members.

    Some carriers offer a different fitness package. Take a look here for a detailed breakdown of each carrier's fitness offering.

    UnitedHealthcare® has their own gym and wellness package called “Renew Active.”

    Kaiser has a similar program called “Active&Fit” built for Kaiser’s Medicare members.

     

    More
  • 14. Should I pair my Original Medicare with a Supplement Plan or Advantage Plan?
     

    Yes. You should absolutely pair your Original Medicare Plan with additional coverage. You will have more complete coverage if you pair it with a Supplement or Advantage Plan. 

    More
  • 15. What is the IRMAA Extra Premium Charge for Higher Earners?
     

    IRMAA stands for income-related monthly adjustment amount and is an additional amount that some people might have to pay along with their Medicare premium.

    The Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is an amount you may pay in addition to your Part B or Part D premium if your income is above a certain level. If you are a higher earner, you will likely pay more for your Medicare plans.

    Click here to learn more about IRMAA and how to avoid it.

    More
  • 16. Do I get a free gym membership when I enroll in Medicare?
     

    Many carriers offer a fitness package to their Medicare members. Take a look here for a detailed breakdown of each carrier's fitness offering.

    In San Diego, Anthem, Aetna, Blue Shield, and SCAN all offer Silver Sneakers as a free benefit for their Medicare members.

    UnitedHealthcare® has their own gym and wellness package called “Renew Active.”

    Kaiser has a similar program called “Active&Fit” built for Kaiser’s Medicare members.

     

    More

Popular Medicare Plan Providers / Carriers in San Diego

Use these pages to explore your San Diego Supplement Insurance and Advantage Plans.

Blue Shield

Blue Shield offers Supplement Plans with “extra” benefits like SilverSneakers and hearing aids. Blue Shield is a nationally recognized insurance provider with a wonderful reputation.

Scan

Prior to 2024, SCAN Advantage plans were the best option with access to Scripps doctors. However, Scripps no longer accepts ANY Medicare Advantage plans. SCAN does offer access to other doctor networks.

Anthem

Anthem offers Advantage plans and Supplement Insurance plans with the well loved gym membership SilverSneakers. For those who qualify, Anthem still offers the popular but retired Plan F.

Kaiser

Kaiser's Medicare offering showcases the numerous facilities all throughout California. The Kaiser Medicare Advantage HMO offers access to Kaiser facilities and the participating providers.

UnitedHealthcare®

UnitedHealthcare® offers superb Medicare services including the largest number of Supplement Insurance and Advantage Plans with access to multiple San Diego doctor networks and hospitals. 

Sharp

Sharp HealthCare is one of the major medical providers here in San Diego. Sharp has made it their focus to offer quality healthcare at an affordable price for the community of downtown San Diego.

Insurance carriers pay brokers like us to help you enroll in your Medicare plans.

So you can enroll with a professional free of charge!