Delaying Medicare Enrollment

If you’re still working at 65 with employer insurance, you may not need Medicare right away. But delaying Medicare enrollment incorrectly can cause costly penalties or gaps.

You can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B (and sometimes Part A) if:

• You (or your spouse) are still working.

• You have active, creditable employer coverage.

This lets you keep employer insurance, skip Part B’s monthly premium, and sign up during an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) later. You might even enroll in Part A (often free) unless you have an HSA.

• No job-based insurance — COBRA, retiree, and Marketplace plans don’t count.