There was a day, sometime not all too long ago, when turning 30 seemed old. And at that time, you may not have believed that the day you became eligible for Medicare would come…
Well, that day is just around the corner and turning 65 is a big life event. In fact, thousands of Baby Boomers are doing it every day! So here’s what you need to know:
- In most cases, you will be 65 when enrolling in Medicare. And no, your spouse’s age does not count.
- You may enroll in Medicare even if you are not collecting Social Security yet.
- You may enroll in Medicare even if you work past age 65 and have employer coverage... or if you are 65 and have coverage through your spouse’s employer.
Your first opportunity to sign up for Medicare is called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). And it happens right around your 65th birthday… and lasts a total of 7 months. Note that this time period includes your birthday month… plus the 3 months before and the 3 months after. It is in your best interest to sign up early in order to avoid gaps in coverage and late enrollment penalties.
Please note that you may be enrolled in Medicare automatically if you currently receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. In this case, you will receive your Medicare card in the mail a few months before your 65th birthday. That being said, you still have an IEP during which you may make Medicare coverage decisions.
Seriously. All is not lost if you miss your IEP.
You can sign up later, but you could face some penalties if you wait too long.
Reach out to us today for more information.
