​still working at 65? When do you sign up for medicare?

MEDIGAP ALSO MIGHT BE AFFECTED. If you sign up for Part B while you still have coverage from a large employer, you may have a difficult time getting a Medicare supplement policy, also called

Medigap, after that employer coverage ends. You have a right to buy any Medigap policy available in your state regardless of your health within six months of enrolling in Part B when you’re

65 or older. But if you enrolled in Part B while working for a large employer and don’t buy a Medigap policy until after that six months have passed, insurers in most states can reject you

for coverage or charge more because of a preexisting health condition, except in special circumstances. DO I NEED TO ENROLL AT 65 IF I WORK FOR A SMALL COMPANY? The laws that prohibit large

companies from requiring Medicare-eligible employees to drop the employer plan and sign up for Medicare don’t apply to companies with fewer than 20 people. In this situation, the employer

decides. You generally need to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B during your initial enrollment period (IEP), which begins three months before and ends three months after the month you turn

65. If you don’t, you could end up with large coverage gaps. If the employer requires you to enroll in Medicare, which is most common, Medicare automatically becomes your primary coverage

at 65 and the employer plan provides secondary coverage. In other words, Medicare settles your medical bills first, and the group plan pays only for services it covers but Medicare doesn’t.

This means if you fail to sign up for Medicare when required, you essentially will be left with no coverage. YOUR FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD BE to ask the employer whether you’re required to sign

up for Medicare when you turn 65 or if you’re eligible to receive Medicare earlier because of a disability. Find out exactly how the employer plan will fit in with Medicare. If you’re not

required to sign up for Medicare, ask the employer to provide the decision in writing. WHAT ABOUT MEDIGAP when working for a small employer? When Medicare is primary coverage and the

employer plan is secondary, you have a guaranteed issue right to buy a Medigap policy within 63 days of losing that coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions. In this situation, signing

up for Medicare Part B when you also have employer insurance won’t jeopardize your chances of buying a Medigap policy after your employment ends. WHAT IF I GET COBRA OR RETIREE HEALTH

COVERAGE? You still need to sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period if you continue your former employer’s health coverage through COBRA or if you have retiree health

insurance. Medicare becomes your primary coverage when you turn 65; COBRA coverage is secondary. You also could face coverage gaps if you don’t sign up for Medicare. Retiree health insurance

benefits are generally secondary to Medicare, too. You or your spouse must be actively working for the employer that provides your health insurance if you want to delay Medicare enrollment

and qualify for a special enrollment period later.