Must I Enroll in Medicare at Age 65?

Dear Retired but Curious:  As long as you are covered by a “creditable” healthcare plan (such as that from your wife’s US Postal Service employer), you can defer enrolling in Medicare until your Postal Service Health Benefit (PSHB) coverage from your wife’s employer ends. When that happens, you (and your wife) will enter a Medicare “Special Enrollment Period” (SEP) during which you can enroll in Medicare without incurring a Late Enrollment Penalty. Thus, in your specific circumstances, you don’t need to do anything about enrolling in Medicare when you turn 65.

That is still true, regardless of when you claim your Social Security benefits. If you claim Social Security at age 67 and before your wife retires from the USPS, you will be required to take Medicare Part A (coverage for inpatient hospitalization services), but Medicare Part A is premium-free for those also eligible for Social Security.

However, enrollment in Medicare Part B (coverage for outpatient healthcare services) is always optional because there is a premium associated with it, and you can continue to defer enrollment in Medicare Part B as long as you have “creditable” healthcare coverage from your wife’s employer (even while you are collecting Social Security).

When you apply for Social Security, you can inform SS that you are declining Medicare Part B because you are still covered by your wife’s USPS employer healthcare plan. Then, when your wife retires and you lose your USPS healthcare coverage, you can enroll in Medicare Part B at that time without a late enrollment penalty.

 This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, all services are free.