Turning 65 in Austin: Medicare enrollment help

Turning 65 brings a series of Medicare decisions with firm deadlines. Whether you are retiring from a state agency, the university, a tech company, or your own business, RGI Group helps Austin-area residents put those decisions in order: when to start Parts A and B, whether to choose Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement, and how to add drug coverage.

Your Initial Enrollment Period

Your Initial Enrollment Period is seven months long: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. If you already receive Social Security retirement benefits, you are usually enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. If not, you apply through Social Security, online or by phone.

If you're still working in Austin at 65

Many Austin residents keep working past 65. Whether you should delay Part B depends on your employer's size and how its plan coordinates with Medicare. Delaying without qualifying coverage can lead to a lifelong late-enrollment penalty, so confirm with your employer's benefits team before deciding.

  • Ask whether your employer plan is primary or secondary to Medicare.
  • If you have an HSA, ask about stopping contributions before Medicare starts.
  • Keep written proof of employer coverage for a later Special Enrollment Period.

State, school, and university retirees

Retiree coverage through ERS, TRS, or a university system has its own rules for how it works with Medicare. Contact your retirement system before enrolling in any individual plan so you don't unintentionally affect benefits you've earned.

Choosing your path

Once Parts A and B are set, most people choose between two paths: Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement and a Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that often includes drug coverage. We walk through both with your Austin-area doctors and prescriptions in mind.

Free local counseling is also available

Texas offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling through the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). You are welcome to use it alongside or instead of meeting with an agent.

How enrollment works

  • About three months before your 65th birthday month, confirm whether you'll be auto-enrolled or need to apply.
  • Check how any employer or retiree coverage works with Medicare.
  • Choose Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D, or Medicare Advantage, with an RGI agent.
  • Enroll before your coverage start date and review your coverage every fall.

Frequently asked questions

  • When should I start planning Medicare if I turn 65 in Austin? A good time to start is about three to six months before your 65th birthday month. That leaves time to confirm Part A and B enrollment, review any employer or retiree coverage, and compare plans before your Initial Enrollment Period ends.
  • What happens if I miss my Initial Enrollment Period? Without other qualifying coverage, you may have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) and may owe a late-enrollment penalty for Part B and Part D.
  • Can I sit down with someone in Austin to go over Medicare? Yes. RGI Group's office is at 5900 Balcones Drive in Austin. We also meet by phone or video, and many families bring a spouse or adult child to the conversation.
  • Do you help in Spanish? Yes. Appointments are available in English or Spanish.

Plan your Medicare start in Austin

Book a no-pressure conversation and leave with a clear checklist of dates and decisions for your 65th birthday.

Talk with a licensed Texas agent

Call 346-888-0811. Office: 5900 Balcones Drive, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78731. Monday–Sunday, 8:00 AM–11:00 PM. Licensed in Texas. Guidance available in English and Spanish.