If You Are Reading This Page
You are probably someone who stepped up to help a parent, spouse, or loved one figure out their Medicare. Maybe they handed you a stack of envelopes and said "can you handle this?" Maybe you noticed their plan changed and realized no one was watching out for them. Whatever brought you here — the fact that you are here matters.
Medicare on behalf of someone else is genuinely complex. The enrollment periods, the plan comparisons, the coordination with Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), the terminology — it is a lot. This page gives you a roadmap.
First: Understand What Role You Can Legally Play
To act on someone's behalf with Medicare, Social Security, or insurance companies, you generally need one of the following:
- Healthcare Power of Attorney: Allows you to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so
- Financial Power of Attorney: Allows you to manage financial affairs and make financial decisions
- Authorized Representative designation: For Medicare specifically, you can be designated as an authorized representative using CMS Form CMS-10106
- Social Security Representative Payee: If they receive Social Security, you may need to apply to become their Representative Payee
Without one of these in place, insurance companies and government agencies may not be able to discuss your loved one's account with you. If these documents are not yet in place, consult an elder law attorney — sooner is much better than later.
Key Things to Gather Right Away
- Their Medicare card (red, white, and blue — or the red Medicare Advantage card if they have one)
- Any plan documents, Evidence of Coverage (EOC), or Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letters received in the last year
- A complete and current list of all medications including doses
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all current doctors and specialists
- Information about any other insurance they have — employer retiree plan, VA benefits, Medi-Cal, TRICARE
- Their Social Security income amount (needed to understand IRMAA exposure)
Annual review matters: Medicare plans change every year. A plan that was right last year may no longer include their doctor or may have moved their medications to a higher cost tier. An annual review — done in October before the Annual Enrollment Period deadline of December 7 — can find significant savings and prevent coverage surprises.
If They Have Both Medicare and Medi-Cal
If your loved one qualifies for both Medicare and Medi-Cal, they are "dual eligible" — and there are special plans called Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) designed specifically for their situation. These plans often carry low or no premiums, coordinated benefits, and dedicated care coordination. Most dual-eligible beneficiaries do not know these plans exist, and many are on plans that are not optimized for their situation. This is one of the most impactful reviews an agent can perform.
Language Access and Cultural Considerations
If your loved one's primary language is not English, make sure their agent and their healthcare providers speak their language. Our network includes agents fluent in Spanish, Armenian, and Mandarin, among other languages. Medicare decisions made through a language barrier are often poorly understood and poorly suited to the person they are supposed to serve. Request a language-matched agent when you connect with us.
What a Local Independent Agent Does for Caregivers
A local agent becomes a consistent point of contact for your family — someone who knows your loved one's situation, keeps their coverage under review, and can be called when something changes. That relationship is genuinely valuable, especially for caregivers who are managing from a distance or juggling their own responsibilities alongside caregiving.