How To Sign Up For Medicare When You Turn 65

Switch To An Advantage Plan

First, you can switch from your Supplemental plan to an Advantage plan. Again, everything is going to be tied to your 65th birth month, so you have three months before and after your birth month to make that switch.

If you switch from a Supplemental plan to an Advantage plan during this time, any Advantage company is going to take you.

Your Medicare Special Enrollment Period

If your employer has at least 20 employees and youre still working and covered under that plan when you turn 65, you can delay your enrollment in Medicare . In that case, youll get an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare if and when you leave your job or your employer stops offering coverage. It will start the month after you separate from your employer, or the month after your group health coverage ends whichever happens sooner.

Sign up during those eight months, and you wont have to worry about premium surcharges for being late. And the eight-month special enrollment period is also available if youre delaying Part B enrollment because youre covered under your spouses employer-sponsored plan, assuming their employer has at least 20 employees.

But note that in either case, it has to be a current employer. If youre covered under COBRA or a retiree plan, you wont avoid the Part B late enrollment penalty when you eventually enroll, and you wont have access to a special enrollment period to sign up for Part B youll have to wait for the general enrollment period instead.

Who Is Automatically Enrolled In Medicare

If youre already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least four months before your 65th birthday, youll be enrolled automatically in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you live in Puerto Rico and are receiving those benefits, only Part A will come to you automatically youll need to take extra steps to enroll in Part B.

Youll receive your Medicare card in the mail and can start using it the beginning of the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first day of a month, your coverage will start a month earlier.

Part A, which covers hospitalization, is free if you or your spouse has paid Medicare taxes for 40 quarters, the equivalent of 10 years. Part B, which covers doctor and outpatient services, has a monthly premium of $170.10 for most people in 2022, and the Social Security Administration will automatically deduct the premium from your monthly benefit.

But if you or your spouse is still working and you have health insurance from that employer, you may not have to enroll in Part B yet. You can send back the card and enroll in Part B later. Follow the instructions on the back of the card to delay enrolling in Part B if youre already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

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When Does Medicare Not Automatically Start

Medicare will NOT automatically start when you turn 65 if youre not receiving Social Security Benefits or Railroad Retirement Benefits for at least 4 months prior to your 65th birthday. Youll need to apply for Medicare coverage.

Theres no such thing as a Medicare office enrollment in the program is handled by the Social Security Administration . If you have to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or B on your own, you can visit your local Social Security office.

You can also online by following the instructions at the Social Security Administration Medicare Benefits web page. In most cases, signing up online will take ten minutes.

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How To Avoid The Late

You might not be getting retirement benefits when you turn 65 because you are still working. In this case, you will have to sign up for Medicare when you retire and lose your employer health care coverage. When your employer coverage ends, you may have a special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare Part B without receiving a late-enrollment penalty.

Generally your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B but didnât sign up for it. Similarly, you Part A monthly premium may go up by 10% if you didnât enroll when you were first eligible. However, most people qualify for premium-free Part A and therefore are also exempt from the Medicare Part A late-enrollment penalty.

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How Does Medicare Work With My Job

Keep in mind that:

• Most people qualify to get Part A without paying a monthly premium. If you qualify, you can sign up for Part A coverage starting 3 months before you turn 65 and any time after you turn 65 Part A coverage starts up to 6 months back from when you sign up or apply to get benefits from Social Security .
• If you have a Health Savings Account, you and your employer should stop contributing to it 6 months before you sign up for Part A to avoid a tax penalty.

But It Doesnt Have Universal Support

Most Americans support expanding Medicare coverage a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation poll indicates that 77% of respondents support the idea of introducing a Medicare buy-in for people as young as 50.

But the idea faces detractors in Congress.

And not just from Republicans more conservative members of the Democratic party are likely to push back on any changes to the state-sponsored health system.

In response to Bidens comparatively modest proposed changes, hospital communities argued that expanded health care could encourage more people to retire younger, which would negatively impact the workforce. Theyre also concerned it would reduce the amount health care providers receive in reimbursements.

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I Turn 65 In A Few Months When Should I Sign Up For Medicare

En español | If you already receive Social Security benefits, Social Security will automatically sign you up for Medicare Part A and Part B though you can decline Part B enrollment if you want to. Otherwise, you need to apply for Medicare. The best time to do that depends entirely on your own situation. Broadly, there are two options:

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Do I Have To Sign Up For Medicare

Thinking about how to sign up for Medicare at age 65? You might not have to worry about Medicare enrollment its automatic for many people.

But even if youre enrolled in Original Medicare automatically, that might not take care of all your needs. Original Medicare doesnt cover routine dental care or prescription drugs, for example. Well get to additional coverage options later.

So how do you know if youre going to be automatically enrolled in Medicare?

• Generally, if youre already getting Social Security retirement benefits when you become eligible for Medicare, youre automatically signed up for Part A and Part B.
• If youre not getting Social Security benefits yet when you turn 65 for example, if you decided to delay your benefits youll need to sign up.

Watch for your red, white, and blue Medicare card to arrive in the mail around three months before your birthday. Your coverage begins the first day of the month of your 65th birthday for most people. If you turn 65 on the first of the month, your coverage begins the month before your birthday.

When do I sign up for Medicare?

You can sign up for Medicare at any time during the seven-month period that begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes your birthday month, and extends three months past the month you turn 65.

Learn about Medicare enrollment if you qualify for Medicare before age 65 due to disability.

When will your coverage begin if you sign up during your IEP?

NEW TO MEDICARE?

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Scenario #: You Are Already Over Age 65 But You Were Covered By Other Insurance When You Turned 65 You Now Want To Sign Up For Medicare

As many people work longer, they are being covered by group insurance plans and wish to delay when they sign up for Medicare. This is certainly an option and is actually advisable, as Medicare benefits often duplicate group insurance coverage. Additionally, enrollment into Medicare Part B initiates certain guaranteed enrollment rights into Medicare Supplement plans, and you would not want to initiate those until the time that you are planning to use Medicare as your primary insurance.

But, if you have reached the point where you are losing your group coverage, or retiring, and enrolling in Medicare, that process is relatively straight-forward. Medicare has late enrollment penalties that would apply if you have not been covered by a group plan, so you will have to prove that you HAVE been covered. You will need two forms to do this, one of which has to be partially completed by your employer to verify that youve been covered. The forms that you will need are: CMS 40-B and CMS L-564 .

These two forms need to be returned to a local Social Security field office in person. This should be done at least one month before you want your Medicare to start if possible.

What Happens After I Register For Medicare Online

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by Medicare to ensure all the information is accurate and complete. You should double-check your contact information to make sure it is correct. This is important to ensure prompt delivery of your Identification Card, as well as in the event Medicare needs to contact you about your enrollment.

After your application is received and processed, a letter will be mailed to you with the decision. If you encounter any questions or problems during the process, you can always contact Social Security for assistance.

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When Do I Apply For Medicare If Im Still Working At 65

What if youre still working when you hit 65? If you qualify for Medicare, but youre not getting Social Security benefits yet, you usually dont get enrolled automatically in Medicare.

Some people decide to:

• Enroll in Medicare Part A as soon as theyre eligible. Even if your employer plan has hospital coverage, Part A is premium-free for most people. If your employer plan has hospital coverage, and you have a hospital stay, your plan and Medicare Part A will coordinate benefits to work out payment of your hospital costs.
• Delay enrollment in Medicare Part B. Theres typically a monthly Part B premium, and if youre covered by an employer plan for now, you may be able to save money by delaying enrollment in Part B.

But youll want to make sure you sign up for Medicare Part B when your employer-based coverage ends. Theres a Part B late enrollment penalty, but you can generally avoid it if you sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period when your other coverage stops.

Its important to be sure about what youre doing so that you can avoid Medicare late enrollment penalties. Contact your employer- or union-based health plan administrator with any questions you have to help ensure a smooth transition to Medicare coverage.

I Am Turning 65 In A Few Months And Want To Go On Medicare Will I Be Automatically Enrolled In Parts A And B Or Do I Need To Sign Up

It depends. If youre receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board at least four months before you turn 65, you do NOT need to sign up youll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month that you turn 65. You should receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. If you are NOT receiving benefits from Social Security or the RRB at least four months before you turn 65, you will need to sign up with Social Security to get Parts A and B. To sign up to receive Parts A and B, you can enroll online with Social Security, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office.

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Should You Wait Until 65 To Sign Up For Medicare

If you wait to sign up right before your 65th birthday , you may go for months without coverage.

Initial Enrollment Period

Your Initial Enrollment Period will last for 7 months. This Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after your birthday month. If you fail to enroll before your birthday month, your coverage will be delayed by a month or more.

General Enrollment Period

Youll have the option to sign up during the General Enrollment Period which falls between January 1 and March 31 every year if you didnt sign up during the Initial Enrollment Period. But youll potentially be charged a late enrollment penalty. Your premiums for Part B will be permanently increased by 10% for each year that you neglected to sign up for Part B and your monthly premiums for Part A will temporarily increase by 10%. As a rule, most people dont pay premiums for Part A, but then again, most people dont delay signing up for Part A. Your coverage will start on July 1, three months after the General Enrollment Period ends.

You may be able to avoid the late enrollment penalty and having to wait for the General Enrollment Period if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Special Enrollment Period

Its important to check with your insurer or HR department to make sure that your coverage is sufficient to postpone Medicare enrollment.

Are You Required To Sign Up For Medicare At Age 65

Not everybody needs to sign up for Medicare when they turn 65, but most people do, says Kline. If you are currently working and have creditable coverage , you dont have to sign up for Medicare Part B. The same goes for if your spouse is working for a company that has creditable coverage and youre on your spouses plan.

One thing that trips up some people is assuming that their retiree health plan will fully cover them. If you or your spouse is on a retiree plan, normally when you turn 65, those plans become secondary. What that means is if you dont sign up for Medicare , your secondary coverage wont work, says Kline. Employer plans that cover fewer than 20 employees will also be secondary coverage. If youre not sure, call your plan provider and ask.

Another error some people make is assuming that if they have COBRA coverage that they dont need to sign up for Medicare. Even though its the exact same coverage you had when youre working, that is never creditable, says Kline.

If you dont sign up during your IEP or have creditable coverage, a Late Enrollment Penalty may be assessed.

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Can You Sign Up For Medicare At Any Time

No, you can only enroll in Medicare during one of the enrollment periods. The first opportunity you have to enroll is during your Initial Enrollment Period. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, your second opportunity to sign up is during the General Enrollment Period. Outside both of these enrollment windows, you can sign up during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.

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How Social Security Benefits Can Affect Medicare Enrollment

If you are receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, youll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, even if youre working. Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail about 3 months before your 65th birthday.

Once youre enrolled in Medicare, a monthly Part B premium will be automatically deducted from your Social Security check. If you dont want Medicare Part B, you need to notify Medicare to opt out. There will be instructions for doing this on the back of your Medicare card.

If youre not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will need to enroll yourself in Medicare when you become eligible.

Delaying Medicare Due To Work: Special Enrollment Period

If you didn’t enroll in Medicare because you were still working, and you were covered under a group health plan based on employment, you have a Special Enrollment Period during which you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B. While you or your spouse are still working and you’re still covered under a group health plan, you can sign up anytime.

After your or your spouse’s employment ends, your Special Enrollment Period lasts eight months, starting the month after the employment or group health plan ends . However, you have only two months after the employment or group health plan ends to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan . You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan starting three months before your Medicare Part B enrollment is due to take effect up to the day before your Part B coverage startsbut again, enrollment must take place within two months of your employment or group health plan ending.

Example:

Judy’s last day of work is July 1 and her group health plan ends July 31. She has eight months, until April 30, to sign up for Part B without a penalty. But if she wants to join a Medicare Advantage plan, she needs to do so by September 30 . Instead, on June 15, Judy signs up for Part B coverage to begin on August 1, so that she won’t have a gap in coverage. She has only until July 31 to add a Medicare Advantage plan . Her Medicare Advantage plan will start August 1.

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