United States Seniors: What's Next If You Want a Public Part C Medicare Advantage Supplement

OK, Medicare people. its like Lent. Seven weeks to go before so-called Medicare open enrollment ends even though the priests tell you it only lasts 40 days starting last Wednesday.  So... IF...

1. You don't get a Medicare supplement from a former employer. (If you do get a Medicare supplement from a former employer, this whole October 15 to December 7 thing most likely means nothing to you.)
2. You agree you need a Medicare supplement (like about 95% of the rest of us on Medicare).
3. You don't get Social Security Extra Help/LIS and you are not signed up for a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program. (If you are on either of these plans, the whole October 15 to December 7 thing also means nothing to you; you can change plans as often as every month. But this is still a good time to think about it because everyone else is doing it and you can compare notes.)
4. You compared private Medigap supplements with public Part C Medicare health plans.
5. You decided to go the public Part C route on the "Medicare and You" decision tree¹ (see image above). 

So what's next? You can make your life very complicated and call AARP, Blue Cross, Humana, and all the local insurance companies. Or you can just go to Medicare Plan Finder and enter your zip code. Then come back to this site and follow the other steps that will be added day by day beginning October 19.

¹Even if you decided on private Medigap insurance, you probably need a Part D drug plan unless you have creditable coverage from a former employer or union or the VA. If that's the case, the how-to over the next few days also applies to you as well.