Resources
Medicare Checklist for Jacksonville, FL
Solid Medicare decisions start with solid information. Nearly every headache we untangle traces back to one missing detail: a drug left off a list, a specialist nobody checked, a letter from HR that was never requested.
Work through this checklist before comparing any plans. It takes about twenty minutes, and it's the exact list we use with clients from Riverside to Mandarin to the Beaches.
- What to pull together before comparing plans
- Deadlines that should never slip
- Smart questions to ask any agent you meet
- Florida-Licensed Advisor
- Local Help in Duval, Clay & St. Johns
- No-Cost Plan Checkup
Step 1
Round up your paperwork
- Your red, white and blue Medicare card (or Social Security confirmation letter)
- Current insurance card and plan name, if you're covered today
- Your Annual Notice of Change letter, if a plan sent one this fall
- Creditable coverage letter from an employer, TRICARE, or the VA
- A rough household income figure, in case Extra Help applies to you
Step 2
Write down what you use, not what you might use
Doctors and hospital system
Primary care, every specialist, and which system you lean toward: Baptist Health, UF Health Jacksonville, Ascension St. Vincent's, or Mayo Clinic Florida.Prescriptions
Exact drug names, dosages, refill schedule, and your usual pharmacy. Snap a photo of the bottles if that's quicker.Care you expect this year
A scheduled surgery, ongoing physical therapy, or frequent bloodwork should all shape which plan fits.
Step 3
Mark your dates
- Your 65th birthday and the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around it
- The day Part B starts, which opens your 6-month Medigap window
- October 15 to December 7 for Annual Open Enrollment
- January 1 to March 31 if you're already on a Medicare Advantage plan
- Your last day of active employment, if you've been delaying Part B
Unsure which window fits your situation?
Read Turning 65 if you're new to Medicare, or Switch Your Plan if you're already enrolled and thinking about a change.
Step 4
What to ask before you trust an agent
A genuinely independent agent should answer every one of these without stalling: Which carriers are you appointed to sell? Are my specific doctors in-network on this exact plan for next year? What will each of my prescriptions actually cost under this plan's formulary? What's my realistic total cost for the year, not just the premium? And what happens if I need to change course later?
Vague answers mean keep shopping. Read about how we work or start with the FAQs.
No pressure, no obligation
Checklist finished? Let's compare plans.
Bring what you've gathered and we'll line up the Duval County plans we represent side by side, matched against your doctors and prescriptions.