Medicare Blog

when can my spouse sign up for medicare b if you are still working

by Miss Mabelle Kuvalis IV Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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You and your spouse can enroll in Original Medicare Part B when you reach the age of 65 without being penalized for late enrollment if your employer health insurance coverage is comparable to what Medicare recipients receive.

If you're covered under a group health plan based on current employment, you have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B at any time as long as you or your spouse (or family member if you're disabled) is working, and you're covered by a group health plan through the employer or union based on ...

Full Answer

When can my spouse enroll in Medicare Part B?

You and your spouse can enroll in Original Medicare Part B when you reach the age of 65 without being penalized for late enrollment if your employer health insurance coverage is comparable to what Medicare recipients receive.

Should I sign up for Medicare if my spouse is retired?

In other words, she or he is still working for the employer that provides the health coverage. So, even if your spouse receives terrific retiree health benefits after ceasing to work, both of you should consider signing up for Medicare (Parts A and B) at that time.

Can I sign up for Medicare Part B If I quit work?

You can wait until you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) to sign up for Part B, and you won’t pay a late enrollment penalty. I (or my spouse) get a stipend from my employer to buy my own health insurance.

Can I delay signing up for Medicare Part B?

You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare Part B without a late enrollment penalty if you or your spouse (or a family member, if you’re disabled) is working, and you’re getting health insurance benefits based on current employment. COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act);

When do spouses have to enroll in Medicare?

How long after Medicare Part B enrollment can I buy a Medigap policy?

How to disenroll in Social Security?

How long does a spouse have to sign up for a new employer?

What happens if you don't have Medicare?

When can I enroll in Medicare Part A?

Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I'm 65?

See more

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Can you enroll in Medicare Part B while 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.

Can I get Medicare if my spouse is still working?

Generally, if you have job-based health insurance through your (or your spouse's) current job, you don't have to sign up for Medicare while you (or your spouse) are still working. You can wait to sign up until you (or your spouse) stop working or you lose your health insurance (whichever comes first).

Can my wife get Medicare Part B?

Medicare is individual insurance, so spouses cannot be on the same Medicare plan together. Now, if your spouse is eligible for Medicare, then he or she can get their own Medicare plan.

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

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 my wife get Medicare at 62?

Traditional Medicare includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). To qualify for Medicare, your spouse must be age 65 or older. If your spouse is age 62 (or any age under 65), he or she could only qualify for Medicare by disability.

Can you have Medicare and employer insurance at the same time?

Yes, you can have both Medicare and employer-provided health insurance. In most cases, you will become eligible for Medicare coverage when you turn 65, even if you are still working and enrolled in your employer's health plan.

How does Medicare work for married couples?

Medicare has no family plans, meaning that you and your spouse must enroll for Medicare benefits separately. This also means husbands, wives, spouses and partners pay separate Medicare premiums.

How do I apply for spousal Medicare benefits?

Form SSA-2 | Information You Need to Apply for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits. You can apply: Online, if you are within 3 months of age 62 or older, or. By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office.

When can a spouse claim spousal benefits?

You must have been married at least 10 years. You must have been divorced from the spouse for at least two consecutive years. You are unmarried. Your ex-spouse must be entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

How do I add Part B to my Social Security?

Fill out Form CMS-40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B). Send the completed form to your local Social Security office by fax or mail. Call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

How do I add Part B to my Medicare online?

You can use one of the following options to submit your enrollment request under the Special Enrollment Period: Go to “Apply Online for Medicare Part B During a Special Enrollment Period” and complete CMS-40B and CMS-L564. Then upload your evidence of Group Health Plan or Large Group Health Plan.

Do you have to enroll in Medicare Part B every year?

Do You Need to Renew Medicare Part B every year? As long as you pay the Medicare Part B medical insurance premiums, you'll continue to have the coverage. The premium is subtracted monthly from most people's Social Security payments. If you don't get Social Security, you'll get a bill.

Turning 65 While on Spouse's Insurance - CAHBA

Question: I am turning 65 and work half-time.I am not eligible for health benefits, so I am on my wife’s policy. It is at a state university and it is through Anthem. Will I be able to continue on her policy, or will Anthem kick me out?

What happens when one spouse goes on Medicare and the other isn’t ...

While it would be convenient for spouses to have the exact same birthday, this is not usually the case. For many couples, their age gap becomes a problem when it comes time to sign up for Medicare.

Turning 65: Should I Stay on my Employer’s Group Health Plan or ...

Turning 65: Should I Stay on my Employer’s Group Health Plan or Enroll in a Medicare Supplemental Plan? If you’re turning 65 and you’ll continue working, you face an important decision: should you stay on your company’s group health insurance plan or enroll in Medicare and a Medicare supplemental or Medicare Advantage plan?

Answer a few questions to find out

These questions don’t apply if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Do you have health insurance now?

Are you or your spouse still working for the employer that provides your health insurance coverage?

Do I need to sign up for Medicare when I turn 65?

It depends on how you get your health insurance now and the number of employees that are in the company where you (or your spouse) work.

How does Medicare work with my job-based health insurance?

Most people qualify to get Part A without paying a monthly premium. If you qualify, you can sign up for Part A coverage starting 3 months before you turn 65 and any time after you turn 65 — Part A coverage starts up to 6 months back from when you sign up or apply to get benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board).

Do I need to get Medicare drug coverage (Part D)?

You can get Medicare drug coverage once you sign up for either Part A or Part B. You can join a Medicare drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage anytime while you have job-based health insurance, and up to 2 months after you lose that insurance.

How long do you have to work to qualify for Medicare?

In the United States, as soon as you turn 65 you are eligible for Medicare benefits if you are citizen or have been a legal resident for five years or more and have worked for at least 40 quarters (10 years) paying federal taxes.

How old do you have to be to get Medicare?

In a case such as this, you must be at least 62 years old.

Can you get Medicare at different ages?

If you and your spouse are different ages, you will likely become eligible at different times. Primary Medicare recipients and their non-insured spouses are entitled to the same benefits under Medicare if both have reached the age of 65.

Do you have to enroll in Medicare Part B or D?

If you wish to sign up for Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and/or Part D (prescription drug insurance), you must enroll separately during your initial enrollment period, Open Enrollment or during Special Enrollment Period to avoid paying late enrollment penalties.

Enrolling in Medicare at 65

If you want to enroll when you are turning 65, you can enroll in Medicare Parts A & B, Part D prescription drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. You can also look at adding a Medicare supplement insurance plan to Original Medicare (Parts A & B) to help with the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare.

Enrolling in Medicare Part A at 65

Many people who are covered by a spouse’s employer plan choose to either wait to enroll until they lose their spouse’s employer coverage or choose to only enroll in Part A since Part A usually has no premium.

Delaying Medicare Enrollment

Just because you are turning 65, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get Medicare right now. If you decide that waiting to enroll in Medicare is the best option both financially and in terms of healthcare coverage for you, just follow Medicare’s rules, and you’ll avoid enrollment penalties when you do enroll.

When Would I Enroll If I Delay or Only Take Part A?

If you are able to delay enrolling in either all or part of Medicare, you will have a Special Enrollment Period of eight months that begins when the employer coverage is lost or when your spouse retires. During this time, you’ll be able to enroll in Medicare Parts A & B. You can also enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan.

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When do you have to enroll in Medicare Part B?

When You Must Enroll in Medicare Part B. 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 do dependents have to enroll in Medicare?

If you’re covered by a spouse’s employer, and the employer requires covered dependents to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65. If you’re not married but living in a domestic partnership and are covered by your partner’s employer health insurance.

How long does it take to enroll in Medicare if you lose your employer?

When you lose your employer coverage, you will get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period during which to enroll in Medicare Part B, and Part A if you haven’t done so already. You’ll also be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan or Part D prescription drug plan in the first two months of this period.

How much does Medicare Part B cost?

Part B is different. Unlike Part A, Medicare Part B has a monthly premium, which can cost $148.50 to $504.90 depending on income. It has a late enrollment penalty for anybody who enrolls without qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period.

Can you avoid Medicare if you file for Social Security?

PHIL: When you file for Social Security, by law you must receive Part A of Medicare. You can't avoid it. If you want to get Social Security benefits, you have to be enrolled in Part A.

Can You Continue to Work and Still Enroll in Medicare?

Yes! You don’t have to retire in order to enroll in Medicare. The only eligibility requirements are to be at least 65 years old or have been collecting SSDI for at least 24 months. Whether you’re working or not is completely irrelevant when it comes to eligibility.

How Employer Coverage and Medicare Part B Work Together

Enrolling in Part B alongside your employer’s health plan is also an option. If you choose to obtain both health plans, Part B would be the primary payer for your coverage. Your secondary payer would be your employer.

Difference Between Active Employment vs. Retiree Benefits

There are different benefits beneficiaries can receive whether they’re actively working or deciding to retire. The main benefit that creates a huge impact on your healthcare plans is the enrollment period technicalities associated with both.

When do spouses have to enroll in Medicare?

Check whether your spouse’s employer plan requires you, as a covered dependent, to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65. Some plans — notably the military’s TriCare-for-Life coverage and health benefits provided by an employer with fewer than 20 employees — automatically become secondary to Medicare when an enrollee becomes entitled to Medicare.

How long after Medicare Part B enrollment can I buy a Medigap policy?

In addition, during the six months following Part B enrollment, you have a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance. After six months , Medigap providers can deny to sell you a plan, or can alter your premiums, based on preexisting conditions.

How to disenroll in Social Security?

You'll need to fill out a CMS-1763 form (pdf) and submit it to SSA. A personal interview with a Social Security representative is also required to disenroll; call 800-772-1213 or contact your local SSA office to arrange one.

How long does a spouse have to sign up for a new employer?

This period lasts for up to eight months after employer coverage comes to an end.

What happens if you don't have Medicare?

In this case, if you’re not enrolled in Medicare, you would receive almost no coverage from the employer plan. If you are not married but living in a domestic partnership and you are covered by your partner's health insurance at work, you should enroll in Part A and Part B during your initial enrollment period at age 65 to avoid late penalties. ...

When can I enroll in Medicare Part A?

You can enroll in Part A (hospital insurance) during your seven-month initial enrollment period around your 65th birthday. It won’t cost you anything — there are no premiums for Part A if you’re entitled to Medicare — but it provides an opportunity to tell the Social Security Administration (SSA), which handles Medicare enrollment, ...

Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I'm 65?

No, as long as you follow Medicare’s rules. Almost anybody who is retired but has group health coverage from the employer of a spouse who is still working does not need to sign up for Medicare Part B on reaching 65.

When do you get Medicare if you leave your job?

In that case, you’ll get an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare if and when you leave your job or your employer stops offering coverage. It will start the month after you separate from your employer, or the month after your group health coverage ends – whichever happens sooner.

What happens if you don't sign up for Medicare?

Specifically, if you fail to sign up for Medicare on time, you’ll risk a 10 percent surcharge on your Medicare Part B premiums for each year-long period you go without coverage upon being eligible.

How long does it take to get Medicare?

Learn how to make sure they have health insurance once you’re enrolled. Medicare eligibility starts at age 65. Your initial window to enroll is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after it. Seniors are generally advised to sign up on time to avoid penalties ...

Do you have to double up on Medicare?

No need to double up on coverage. Many seniors are no longer employed at age 65, and thus rush to sign up for Medicare as soon as they’re able. But if you’re still working at 65, and you have coverage under a group health plan through an employer with 20 employees or more, then you don’t have to enroll in Medicare right now.

Does Medicare pay for Part A?

That said, it often pays to enroll in Medicare Part A on time even if you have health coverage already. It won’t cost you anything, and this way, Medicare can serve as your secondary insurance and potentially pick up the tab for anything your primary insurance (in this case, your work health plan) doesn’t cover.

When do spouses have to enroll in Medicare?

Check whether your spouse’s employer plan requires you, as a covered dependent, to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65. Some plans — notably the military’s TriCare-for-Life coverage and health benefits provided by an employer with fewer than 20 employees — automatically become secondary to Medicare when an enrollee becomes entitled to Medicare.

How long after Medicare Part B enrollment can I buy a Medigap policy?

In addition, during the six months following Part B enrollment, you have a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance. After six months , Medigap providers can deny to sell you a plan, or can alter your premiums, based on preexisting conditions.

How to disenroll in Social Security?

You'll need to fill out a CMS-1763 form (pdf) and submit it to SSA. A personal interview with a Social Security representative is also required to disenroll; call 800-772-1213 or contact your local SSA office to arrange one.

How long does a spouse have to sign up for a new employer?

This period lasts for up to eight months after employer coverage comes to an end.

What happens if you don't have Medicare?

In this case, if you’re not enrolled in Medicare, you would receive almost no coverage from the employer plan. If you are not married but living in a domestic partnership and you are covered by your partner's health insurance at work, you should enroll in Part A and Part B during your initial enrollment period at age 65 to avoid late penalties. ...

When can I enroll in Medicare Part A?

You can enroll in Part A (hospital insurance) during your seven-month initial enrollment period around your 65th birthday. It won’t cost you anything — there are no premiums for Part A if you’re entitled to Medicare — but it provides an opportunity to tell the Social Security Administration (SSA), which handles Medicare enrollment, ...

Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I'm 65?

No, as long as you follow Medicare’s rules. Almost anybody who is retired but has group health coverage from the employer of a spouse who is still working does not need to sign up for Medicare Part B on reaching 65.

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