Caregiver's Guide: How to Help Your Florida Parents Navigate Medicare

You're Not Alone in This

Every year, millions of adult children find themselves in the same situation: a parent is approaching 65, or already on Medicare, and the complexity of the system has become overwhelming. The plan options, the enrollment windows, the drug formularies, the prior authorization battles — it's a lot to manage, especially from a distance.

This guide is written for Florida caregivers who want to help their parents make better Medicare decisions without getting lost in the bureaucracy.

Step 1: Get Authorized to Help

Before you can speak with Medicare, insurance carriers, or Social Security on your parent's behalf, you need legal authorization. There are two main paths:

• Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information: Your parent can complete a form (CMS-10106) authorizing Medicare to share their information with you. This allows you to call 1-800-MEDICARE and discuss their coverage.
• Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA): A legal document giving you authority to make healthcare decisions on your parent's behalf if they become incapacitated. This should be prepared by a Florida attorney while your parent still has capacity.
• Insurance carrier authorization: Each insurance carrier has its own authorization process. Have your parent call their plan and add you as an authorized representative.

Step 2: Understand What They Currently Have

Before you can help, you need to know what your parent is currently enrolled in. Gather:

• Their Medicare card (red, white, and blue) showing their Medicare number and Part A/B effective dates
• Any insurance cards for Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Part D plans
• Their Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — mailed every September by their plan
• A list of their current medications, doses, and pharmacies
• Names and contact information for their primary care physician and specialists

Step 3: Review Their Plan Annually

Medicare plans change every year — premiums, benefits, formularies, and networks can all shift significantly. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 – December 7 each year. This is the window to review and potentially change plans for the following year.

Key things to check during an annual review:

• Are their medications still covered? Check the plan's formulary for each drug, at what tier, and what the cost-sharing is.
• Are their doctors still in-network? Provider networks change annually. Call each provider's office directly to confirm.
• Have benefits changed? Review the ANOC for any changes to dental, vision, hearing, or other supplemental benefits.
• Is there a better option available? New plans enter the market each year. A comparison may reveal better coverage at lower cost.

Step 4: Watch for These Red Flags

As a caregiver, be alert to these warning signs that your parent's Medicare situation needs attention:

• Unexpected bills from providers they thought were covered
• Difficulty getting prior authorization for needed procedures
• Pharmacy telling them a medication is no longer covered or has changed tiers
• A doctor leaving their plan's network mid-year
• Receiving a plan termination notice (plans can exit markets mid-year with 60-day notice)
• Confusion about which plan to use for which service

Florida-Specific Resources for Caregivers

• SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders): Florida's free Medicare counseling program. Trained volunteers provide unbiased Medicare information. Call 1-800-963-5337 or visit floridashine.org.
• Florida Department of Elder Affairs: elderaffairs.org — resources for caregivers including the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program.
• Area Agency on Aging — Pinellas County: Provides local resources, caregiver support, and connections to community services.
• 1-800-MEDICARE: Available 24/7 for Medicare questions. Have your parent's Medicare number ready.

How We Can Help

At Integrity Health Solutions, we work with caregivers regularly — often conducting Medicare reviews with an adult child present (in person or by phone) to help the whole family understand the options. We can review your parent's current plan, compare alternatives, and help you understand what's available in their zip code.

We also offer a dedicated Caregiver Medicare Help resource for families navigating this process.

Book a free family Medicare consultation — we welcome caregivers and family members to join the call.