Questions to Ask Before You Enroll
Will you continue working past age 65?
If you plan to continue working past age 65, you may be able to delay enrollment in Part B as long as you still have health insurance coverage through your employer. Your company needs to employ 20 or more employees. Many people still enroll in Part A at 65, because it’s usually premium-free.
Do other people depend on your coverage?
If other people — like a spouse or children — depend on your healthcare coverage, and you’re switching to Medicare, you’ll need to find other coverage for them. Medicare is individual coverage only, it doesn’t cover dependents. Your covered dependents may be able to stay covered for a period of time with COBRA. Or they can check out plans on the ACA marketplace.
What kind of health insurance do you have now?
Compare your current coverage with that of Medicare plans. Look at premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, provider networks and coverage gaps. If there’s anything your current insurance is missing out on, you’ll want to make sure that’s covered in whatever Medicare plan you choose. You’ll also need to choose between Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, which comes with its own set of questions about your current health status, budget and lifestyle.
Next: Enrollment Periods
Medicare has rules — and deadlines. In the next section, we break down when you can sign up, switch plans, or make changes so you don’t miss a deadline (or end up with a penalty).