Turning 65 in Simi Valley: Your 6-Month Bilingual Medicare Checklist

Why 6 months out

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is the 7-month window around your 65th birthday — 3 months before the month you turn 65, the month itself, and 3 months after. Starting your research 6 months before that window gives you time to compare plans calmly, talk to your doctors, and avoid late-enrollment penalties on Part B and Part D.

Month-by-month checklist

• 6 months out: Download a Turning 65 guide. Make a list of every prescription, every doctor, every specialist.
• 5 months out: Confirm whether you have credible employer coverage. If yes, decide whether to delay Part B.
• 4 months out: Schedule a no-cost consultation with a licensed bilingual agent (Lourdes lives in Simi Valley).
• 3 months out: Compare Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare + Medigap with your full prescription and doctor list.
• 2 months out: Enroll in Part A (almost always) and Part B (if applicable).
• 1 month out: Enroll in your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan if not already done.
• Birthday month: Confirm cards arrived. Review your member welcome packet.

Specific Simi Valley considerations

Simi Valley Hospital (Adventist Health) and the Sutter network are in most major Medicare Advantage networks for 93063, 93065, and 93094. If you live on the east side or in one of the 55+ communities (Mountain View, Holiday Simi Hills), Lourdes will come to you. If your family speaks Spanish at home, the consultation will be in Spanish.

Meet Lourdes in June

Coffee, Chat, and Medicare on Wednesday June 10 from 10 to 11 AM at Oak Creek Senior Villas in Thousand Oaks. Medicare Educational 101 on Tuesday June 23 from 4 to 7 PM at Total Wine & More, Thousand Oaks. Both are bilingual, drop-in, no cost.