When to sign up for Medicare if you’re still working past 65

If you’re new to Medicare or need a refresher, here are some quick definitions of the parts of Medicare:

• Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) : Part A is the first part of Original Medicare. It helps pay for care when you’re an inpatient in a hospital, a critical access hospital or a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). Part A may also help cover hospice care and some home healthcare.
• Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) : Part B is the second part of Original Medicare and helps pay for services and supplies you receive outside of a hospital inpatient setting.
• Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) : Part C, also called Medicare Advantage (MA), are private insurance plans that provide most of Part A and Part B coverage. Some MA plans also offer extra benefits such as vision, hearing and dental care.
• Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) : Part D are private insurance plans that help cover the cost of prescription drugs.

The answer will depend on your employment and marriage status. Here are a few scenarios and information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

I have health insurance from a job or I’m on my spouse’s employer plan

If you have group health insurance that’s available to everyone at the company and don’t have to pay a Part A premium, you can enroll when you turn 65 or after. For Part B, you can wait to enroll after you or your spouse stops working or loses health insurance, without paying a late enrollment penalty. Once you stop working or lose your health insurance, you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP)  to sign up for Medicare.

I’m self-employed with health insurance

In this case, ask your insurance provider if your coverage is considered an employer group health plan under IRS rules. If not, you need to sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 to avoid a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty.

I have insurance from Medicaid, Marketplace or a private company

The rules for these types of insurance are unique. Contact your health insurance plan to get more information.

I have COBRA insurance

If your job offered you COBRA coverage after your employment ended or your spouse lost insurance coverage, the rules vary. If you haven’t signed up for Medicare yet, sign up when you turn 65 to avoid a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty  and gaps in coverage. If you started COBRA after you signed up for Medicare, COBRA will pay after Medicare unless you have End-Stage Renal Disease. 

When can I enroll in Medicare after turning 65?

You have 2 opportunities to enroll in Medicare before and after turning 65.

General Enrollment Period

The General Enrollment Period (GEP) runs from Jan. 1–March 31 every year. You can sign up for Part A and Part B and coverage will start July 1. You may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

Special Enrollment Period

Certain life events may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). One example is losing your or your spouse’s health insurance coverage from an employer. Generally, an SEP lasts 2–3 months but depends on the time of the qualifying event.

Are there penalties for not enrolling in Medicare?

Yes, there are late enrollment penalties for Part A and Part B. These penalties are enforced by the federal government (Medicare), not private insurance companies like Humana, and are added to your monthly premium. To stay clear of these extra costs, use these tips on how to avoid Medicare late enrollment penalties .

Learn more about Medicare

We have over 120 articles about Medicare coverage, costs, enrollment and more. To learn more about Medicare, check out our Medicare resources .