@NeverPayRetail: Yes, you're doing the right thing, registering for Medicare three months in advance. Use that three months to do your research and decide whether you want:
a) Regular Medicare Part A only (covers hospitalization, but not doctor visits) There is no fee for Part A
b) Regular Medicare Part A and Part B. Part B is $170/mo for 2022 and if you are getting Social Security, will be deducted from your monthly SS payment.
c) Regular Medicare Parts A and B plus a separate Medicare Part D drug plan.
d) Medicare Advantage plan (called Medicare Part C) You still have to pay your Medicare Part B premium, which will go directly to your Advantage provider. Some Advantage plans charge an additional premium above the Part B amount.
Most people who opt for regular Medicare also sign up for a Part B Supplement (to cover the 20% of doctor costs not covered by Medicare) and a Part D drug plan. People who opt for Advantage get all their Part B and D benefits from the same provider. The downside to Advantage is that you're restricted to seeing the doctors in their plan, need permission to see a specialist, and you may find that the Advantage drug benefits don't match your needs as well as a stand-alone Part D plan (which Advantage clients aren't eligible to purchase).
Some folks feel that they're healthy now and don't need Parts B or D, and will sign up for those benefits later. That is possible, but there's a built-in $penalty for every month you delay Parts B and D. Once you begin those coverages, you'll pay the accrued penalty **every month** for the rest of your life.