# What kind of insurance do my parents need? (late 60s, think nothing suddenly bad will befall them) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insurance-do-my-parents-need-late-60s-think-nothing-suddenly-bad-will-befall-them/999742 "2024-04-02T15:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 6
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insurance-do-my-parents-need-late-60s-think-nothing-suddenly-bad-will-befall-them/999742/6 "2024-04-02T15:52:35Z")
Your parents should read the “Medicare primer” posts by @JohnT in [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-elder-crisis-medicare-edition/937146/2). I just went through the Medicare sign-up process and his clear explanation was a lifesaver. The thread is from 2021, so I wondered if rules might have changed, but as far as I call tell everything he wrote is still true. You can’t just sign up any old time - for Medicare Advantage and the supplemental plans, there is an ordinary enrollment period (I think it is around October to December every year but don’t take my word for it). I am not sure how Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) will work for them since I think there is a 3-month window leading into your 65th birthday when you are supposed to sign up; obviously that has passed for them. But, there are SEP (Special Enrollment Periods) for people who need to sign up outside the usual periods - maybe they will qualify for one. To figure out their enrollment period and what the best plan is for them, [they can contact the SHIP in their state](https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-is-a-state-health-insurance-assistance-program-and-how-can-it-help-me) for help. Every state has one - it is a federally funded program to help people navigate the incredible confusion that is Medicare. Finally, I note that JohnT’s advice includes this, and I don’t know how that will affect what is their best choice. But if I were them, I’d start researching this NOW: > · You are guaranteed to be issued a MS [Medicare Supplement] plan when you turn 65 (or first get Part B, whichever is later), but after this “guaranteed issue” period, you will have to pass medical underwriting to get a supplement plan, something difficult for many seniors to do. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-insurance-do-my-parents-need-late-60s-think-nothing-suddenly-bad-will-befall-them/999742)._