05/06/2024
One of the most common questions I hear: "I am turning 65, do I HAVE to enroll in Medicare right away?"
The answer isn't a simple yes or no. If you have CREDIBLE coverage through an employer then you do not necessarily have to enroll in Medicare immediately. Your benefits department can verify if your coverage is credible or not.
If you do NOT have credible coverage through an employer at the time of turning 65, then you will want to enroll in Medicare to avoid any late enrollment penalties that will last for a lifetime. These penalties will stay attached to your premium for the duration of your time on Medicare. If you have credible coverage, and later lose your credible coverage, you will want to enroll in Medicare within 60 days of losing your coverage.
Regardless of your situation, I highly recommend sitting down with a licensed, local Medicare agent who can specify needed actions and timelines for your unique situation. I recommend sitting down with an agent 90-60 days prior to your 65th birthday. At this point we can help direct you on what steps need to be taken to get you properly enrolled in Medicare and help you select a plan that best fits your needs. We know all the different options are overwhelming, but we can take the questioning and complexity out of the equation and direct you to the right path!