When should i sign up for medicare part b if i am still working

Q: Can you take Medicare Part B while still working?

You may be required to get Medicare Part B even when youre still working. There are two situations in which you must get Part B when you turn 65. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees. If youre covered by a spouses employer, and the employer requires covered dependents to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65.

Q: How long can I wait to sign up for Medicare Part B?

Part B (Medical Insurance) Generally, youre first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. (You may be eligible for Medicare earlier, if you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.)

Generally, we advise people to file for Medicare benefits 3 months before age 65. Remember, Medicare benefits can begin no earlier than age 65. If you are already receiving Social Security, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B without an additional application. However, because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you have the option of turning it down. You will receive a Medicare card about two months before age 65. (Note: Residents of Puerto Rico or foreign countries will not receive Part B automatically. They must elect this benefit.)

Table of Contents Show

Decide if you want Medicare while you’re still working
Can you take Medicare Part B while still working?
How long can I wait to sign up for Medicare Part B?
Can you add Medicare Part B at any time?
How long does it take for Medicare B to go into effect?

If you would like to file for Medicare only, you can apply by calling 1-800-772-1213. Our representatives there can make an appointment for you at any convenient Social Security office and advise you what to bring with you. When you apply for Medicare, we often also take an application for monthly benefits. You can apply for retirement benefits online.

If you didn’t sign up when you were first eligible for Medicare, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period between January 1 and March 31 each year, unless you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.

Content created by Digital Communications Division (DCD)
Content last reviewed October 10, 2014

Summary:

This depends on your situation. If you’ve worked at least 10 years (40 quarters) under Medicare-covered employment and paid Medicare taxes during that time, you qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A. You should usually enroll in Part A at age 65 even if you’re still working.

Many people delay enrollment in Medicare Part B (medical insurance) if they’re still working and covered by an employer’s group health plan when they turn 65. But there’s more to know – keep reading!

in most cases, you should enroll in Medicare Part A when you turn 65, even if you’re still covered by an employer’s group plan (yours or your spouse’s). Most people don’t have to pay a monthly Part A premium – that includes you if you’ve worked at least 10 years while paying Medicare taxes.

Medicare Part B always comes with a monthly premium, so you may similarly choose to delay your Part B enrollment if you or your spouse are still working and have employer-based group coverage.

Remember, if you don’t sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible and don’t have other coverage based on current employment, you could have to pay a late-enrollment penalty later when you do enroll. The late-enrollment penalty applies to Medicare Part B (and Part A, if you have to pay a premium for it).

Decide if you want Medicare while you’re still working

One factor to consider is that even if you have health coverage through your employer or union, Medicare may help pay for some of the costs not covered by your group health plan. For example, enrolling in Medicare may be useful if you work for a small company (less than 20 employees) because Medicare could be the primary payer before your group health insurance.

Ask your employer or union benefits administrator for specifics on how your health coverage and costs may work with Medicare before you decide to sign up for Medicare or delay enrollment.

If you do decide to wait until your group coverage ends to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B, you’ll have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare that starts once you stop working or your group coverage ends (whichever happens first). You can also enroll in Medicare at any time that you are still working and have employer-based coverage.

If you choose COBRA after you stop working, do not wait until your COBRA coverage ends to sign up for Medicare. If you delay enrolling in Medicare Part A and/or Part B after your Special Enrollment Period ends, you’ll have to wait until the next General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31 every year) to enroll, and you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty.

Do you have questions about Medicare? Feel free to contact one of eHealth’s licensed insurance agents; see below for that information.

When you stop working and/or your group health insurance coverage ends, you should enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you’re eligible for premium-free Part A, you can sign up any time after you’re first eligible for Medicare. Your Part A coverage will go back retroactively 6 months from when you sign up (but no earlier than the first month you were eligible). You have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in Part B after your employment (and/or group coverage) ends to avoid facing a penalty for late enrollment. You may want to sign up for Part B in the few months before your group coverage ends to avoid a gap in coverage.

If your employer does not offer retiree health benefits for former employees on Medicare, you will also want to sign up for a Medicare Part D plan. If you opt for traditional Medicare, you can purchase a Medicare supplemental policy, also known as Medigap, which helps pay your Medicare cost-sharing requirements. You can also choose to get your Medicare-covered Part A, Part B and, typically, Part D benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan. In that case, you won’t need to enroll in a Medigap policy or a separate stand-alone Part D plan.

Can you take Medicare Part B while still working?

You may be required to get Medicare Part B even when you're still working. There are two situations in which you must get Part B when you turn 65. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees. If you're covered by a spouse's employer, and the employer requires covered dependents to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65.

Part B (Medical Insurance) Generally, you're first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. (You may be eligible for Medicare earlier, if you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.)

Can you add Medicare Part B at any time?

If you did not enroll for Part B during your initial enrollment period, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Part B (and/or Part A) anytime as long as you or a spouse is working and you're covered by a group health plan through that employment.

How long does it take for Medicare B to go into effect?

Medicare Part B FAQs How long does it take to get Medicare Part B after applying? Approval can take up to 30-60 days if you apply outside your Initial Enrollment Period and do not automatically enroll in Medicare.