Working Beyond 65
What You Need to Know!
Common scenarios beyond 65
Scenario 1
You or a spouse continue to work past 65 with employer coverage from a job that has 20 or more employees:
You can wait until either of you stops working or loses health insurance to sign up for Part B.
If you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A (most people don’t), you can choose to sign up when you turn 65 or later, under certain conditions.
Read more about Part A and B from our Aging In page
If you do enroll, your job insurance pays first and Medicare pays second.
Scenario 2
You or a spouse continue to work past 65 with employer coverage from a job that has 20 or fewer employees:
Ask your employer if you need to sign up for Parts A and/or B when you turn 65. If you don’t enroll, your workplace insurance might not cover your healthcare costs.
If you do sign up for Medicare and keep your work insurance, Medicare pays first, and your job-based insurance pays second.
Scenario 3
You or a spouse continue to work and have employer coverage, but through someplace other than work, such as the Marketplace or Medicaid.
The rules vary depending on what type of insurance you have. Contact the insurance company.
Scenario 4
You’re still working and are self-employed or have employer coverage that’s not available to everyone at the company.
Ask your insurance provider if your coverage meets the IRS definition of employer group health plan coverage. If not, sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 to avoid a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty.
If you have retiree coverage from a previous job, you may need to have Parts A and B, in order for your retiree coverage to pay for your healthcare. Ask the benefits administrator how the coverage works with Medicare.
Scenario 5
You have COBRA coverage and haven’t signed up for Medicare yet.
Sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 to avoid gaps in coverage and a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty.
If you have COBRA before signing up for Medicare, your COBRA will probably end once you sign up.
Scenario 6
You obtained COBRA coverage after you signed up for Medicare.
COBRA pays after Medicare (unless you have End-Stage Renal Disease).
Scenario 7
You’re still working and you (or your spouse) get a stipend from your employer to buy your health insurance.
Ask your health insurance company if you need to sign up for Parts A and B when you turn 65.
Some private insurance lowers the amount it pays for healthcare costs (or does not pay at all) if you’re eligible for other coverage, like Medicare.
Generally, Medicare doesn’t work with your insurance. If it does, Medicare pays first.
Scenario 8
You’re still working, but don’t have any health insurance.
Sign up for Parts A and B, usually when you turn 65.
If you can’t afford insurance there are ways to get help.
Better safe than sorry
If there is any doubt about when to enroll in Medicare, make sure to research and/or ask PrimeTime Health Plan for guidance. You don’t want to mistakenly enroll late and end up paying a penalty.
You deserve to begin Medicare confident that you are on the right path!
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You can also take advantage of a webinar from the comfort of your home or join us for an in-person meeting.
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