A quick reference guide for Ticketholders
When it’s worth a 10-minute call to Medicare Mall…
It’s hard to know when to think about Medicare or your benefits picture. Life happens, and unless something feels urgent, it’s easy to assume everything’s fine. But the windows that matter most — Special Enrollment Periods, subsidy eligibility, plan changes — tend to open quietly, and they can close just as quickly.
The chart below covers the most common moments when a free 10-minute benefits check with our partner Medicare Mall is worth your time. If any of these sound like you — or like something you’ve said out loud recently — bring it up with your ERS coach. They’ll know exactly what to do.
| If this is you… | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Calendar & life-stage moments | |
| You're approaching the 24-month SSDI mark | Medicare opens up for you automatically at month 24 of SSDI — even if you're under 65. A lot of people don't know exactly when it happens or what they need to do, and that uncertainty can cost you. |
| You're turning 65 (or recently did) | Your Initial Enrollment Period is a one-time window. Missing it can mean late penalties for the rest of your life. A 10-minute check makes sure nothing slips through. |
| It's Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7) | Plans change every year — pricing, coverage, formularies, all of it. The plan that was a great fit last year may now be charging you more for the same prescriptions, or hiding a benefit you'd actually use. Open Enrollment is the time to catch it. |
| It's Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31) | For people already in a Medicare Advantage plan, this window lets you switch Advantage plans, or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan. Losing employer or union coverage can also open a similar window. |
| You have Medicare and Medicaid, or get Extra Help with drug costs | Dual-eligible individuals and those receiving the Part D Low Income Subsidy (“Extra Help”) often get extra flexibility — in many cases they can change Medicare drug or Advantage plans once a month. This is especially common among SSDI recipients with limited income. |
| You're already in a regular check-in with your ERS coach | Routine conversations are a perfect moment to ask. Even if nothing major has changed, your eligibility for programs like Extra Help and Medicaid can shift quietly. While you're already in touch with us, ask for a benefits check. |
| Life-change moments | |
| Your income or work situation has changed | Started a job, lost one, working more hours? Income changes can open new Special Enrollment Periods and may change what you qualify for under Medicaid and Extra Help. Most people are never told these doors have opened. |
| You've had a new diagnosis or are managing a chronic condition | Chronic-condition Special Enrollment Periods exist, and they're underused. If your health picture has changed, your plan options may have changed too — sometimes for the better. |
| You recently moved (new state or new county) | Plans, formularies, and assistance programs vary by state and even by county. Moving almost always changes what's available to you, and Medicare Mall can tell you what's on the menu where you are now. |
Recognize yourself in any of these?
If even one row above sounds like you, bring it up with your ERS coach — or fill out the short form on our Medicare Mall partner page. The benefits check is free, takes about ten minutes, and you're never required to change a thing. Worst case, you walk away knowing you're already in the right place. Best case, you find money or coverage you didn't know you were missing.
EmployReward Services and Medicare Mall are independent companies in an affiliate referral relationship. Information is shared only with your permission.
| If this is you… | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Things ticketholders often say (or think) | |
| “My prescription costs are killing me” | If you've said this lately, there's a federal program called Extra Help that can cut prescription costs significantly — and a lot of ticketholders qualify and don't know it. Worth a 10-minute check. |
| “Am I supposed to be getting Extra Help?” or “What about Medicaid?” | Good question — and not always one you can answer on your own. Medicare Mall can screen you for both, quickly, privately, and at no cost. |
| “Can you also look at my Medicare?” | Yes. This is exactly why we partnered with Medicare Mall — so we'd have a clear answer when ticketholders ask. |
| “I got a confusing letter about my Medicare plan” | Plan letters often signal a change that may need attention, or open a new enrollment window. Medicare Mall can decode it for you and tell you whether you need to do anything. |
| You know a working-age friend or relative on SSDI or SSI | They might be in the same boat — and could benefit from both ERS's Ticket to Work services and a Medicare Mall benefits check. Pass this along. |
