Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manage my parent's Medicare for them?
Yes — with the right authorization. To speak to Medicare on your parent's behalf, your parent must designate you as their representative. For Medicare calls: your parent can verbally authorize you during the call by staying on the line. For ongoing access: complete CMS Form 1696 (Appointment of Representative) for formal authorization. For financial decisions: a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney (DPOA) is needed for broader authority.
How do I set up Medicare online access for my parent?
Create a MyMedicare.gov account in your parent's name (requires their Medicare number and personal information). Once created, your parent can add you as an authorized user or share login credentials with you. The account shows all Medicare claims in real-time, coverage details, preventive care reminders, and allows requesting replacement Medicare cards.
What should I know about my parent's Medicare plan during AEP?
Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15–December 7 — the only time most Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can be changed. Before AEP, review your parent's Annual Notice of Change (arrives in September), list all their medications and doctors, and run a comparison on Medicare.gov Plan Finder. Even if you think the current plan is fine, run the comparison — formularies and networks change every year.
How do I help my parent appeal a Medicare denial?
File within 120 days of the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for Original Medicare, or within 60 days of the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for Medicare Advantage. Get a letter from the treating physician documenting medical necessity. You can file the appeal as an authorized representative if you have CMS Form 1696 on file. Call 1-800-MEDICARE if you need help with the process.
What Medicare benefits do most caregivers miss for their parents?
The most commonly missed: Annual Wellness Visit (free, prevents other costly conditions — request it by name), all vaccines free under Part D including Shingrix and flu, chronic care management billing if your parent has 2+ chronic conditions, second surgical opinion coverage before any procedure, and home health care benefits after qualifying hospitalizations.
Navigating Medicare for an aging parent is one of the most common and most overwhelming caregiving challenges — and mistakes made during enrollment, plan selection, or appeals can cost thousands of dollars that can't be recovered. This guide gives you the specific tools and knowledge to help effectively.
Step 1: Get Proper Authorization
Before you can act on your parent's behalf with Medicare, you need authorization. The level needed depends on what you want to do:
- Call Medicare (one-time): Your parent stays on the line and verbally authorizes you to speak during that call. Medicare will then speak with you directly.
- Ongoing Medicare calls: Complete CMS Form 1696 (Appointment of Representative) — downloadable at cms.gov. File it with SSA or Medicare. This gives you ongoing authority to call and inquire about your parent's coverage.
- Financial and healthcare decisions: A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) for finances and a separate Healthcare Proxy or Healthcare POA for medical decisions. These are legal documents typically prepared by an attorney or through your state's standard forms.
- Online access: MyMedicare.gov account — your parent's credentials can be shared with you, or you can set up the account together and bookmark it.
Annual Medicare Checklist for Caregivers
September — Review the ANOC
Your parent's plan mails an Annual Notice of Change every September. Review it together: Are premiums increasing? Did any medications move to a higher tier or get removed? Are the doctors they see still in-network? Any changes to extra benefits (dental, vision, transportation) they rely on?
October 15 — AEP Opens
Run Medicare.gov Plan Finder with your parent's complete medication list and doctor names. Compare the total estimated annual cost (not just premium) of their current plan vs. available alternatives. If switching, enroll before December 7.
January — New Year Coverage Check
Verify new coverage is active. Check that all medications are still covered at the expected tier. Confirm doctors' in-network status for the new plan year by calling their offices directly.
Reading the Medicare Summary Notice
The MSN arrives quarterly — it's not a bill, but it shows every claim Medicare processed. Review every MSN with your parent by checking: do you recognize every service date and provider? Are there any duplicate charges? Any equipment or supplies listed that weren't received? Any charge that doesn't match what you understood would be covered? Billing errors and fraud both show up in the MSN — reviewing it is one of the highest-value caregiving actions you can take.
Benefits Most Caregivers Miss
These are the free Medicare benefits that significantly reduce caregiver burden when used:
- Annual Wellness Visit: Free under Part B — call and request it by name. Includes medication review, cognitive screening, fall risk assessment, and prevention planning. This single visit can identify problems before they become crises.
- Chronic Care Management (CCM): If your parent has 2+ chronic conditions, their primary care doctor can bill Medicare for monthly care coordination that includes a 24/7 phone line, medication management, and specialist coordination — at no extra cost.
- Home health care: After a qualifying hospitalization or when a physician certifies that your parent is homebound and needs skilled nursing or therapy, Medicare covers home health visits at $0.
- Caregiver counseling: Medicare Part B covers family counseling when it's part of a patient's mental health treatment. If your parent is receiving mental health therapy, family sessions may be covered.
Key Resources for Caregivers
- 1-800-MEDICARE: 24/7, free, handles everything from claims to enrollment
- SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program): Free, unbiased counseling by trained volunteers. shiphelp.org — no sales pressure
- MyMedicare.gov: Real-time claim tracking, drug plan comparison, coverage verification
- BenefitsCheckUp.org: National Council on Aging tool to find all benefit programs your parent may qualify for by state
- Eldercare Locator: eldercare.acl.gov — finds local services by ZIP code
- Get CMS Form 1696 on file to speak with Medicare on your parent's behalf ongoing
- Set up MyMedicare.gov access — review claims quarterly with your parent
- Put AEP on your calendar (Oct 15–Dec 7) — run Plan Finder every year even if you plan to keep the same plan
- Request Annual Wellness Visit every year — use those exact words when calling
- Call SHIP for free help with any Medicare question — they know things the 1-800 line doesn't always surface
→ How to Appeal Medicare Denials
→ How to Read the Medicare EOB
→ Caregiver Burnout Prevention