I'm planning to delay Social Security until age 70, but I'm turning 65 soon. How does this affect my Medicare enrollment?

Question

William Gray · Accepted Answer

You can still enroll at 65.  You will need to do this from the SSA website or by visitin your SSA office. 

If you don't enroll at 65 and don't have coverage through a group plan you will be penalized 1% per month for each month you don't have coverage. 

You will be billed by Medicare for your part B premium  3 months at a time.

Kelsey Hentzen · Answer

If you are ready to enroll in Medicare A and B, you are able to enroll in Medicare without taking your Social Security benefits. However, you will receive a quarterly bill in the mail for your Medicare part B premium. You can call social security to make monthly payments instead of quarterly if that works better for you.

Answered by Kelsey Hentzen on April 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in KS & MO

Answered by Kelsey Hentzen Medicare Insurance Agent

Robert Moore · Answer

Delaying social security does not affect your Medicare benefit.  However, if you retire at age 65 and delay your Medicare there will be penalties if you do not have credible coverage from 65 to 70.

Michael Andrews · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/delaying-social-security-medicare-enrollment#michael-andrews

Joseph Meyers · Answer

Social security is your monthly income payments based upon your 20 best years of employment income.
Medicare is the health insurance that most Americans earn from working 40 quarters (or 10 full years) 
You contact the same government office (SSA) to enroll in medicare or start your social security payments.
Now back to the question...
Most people will need to enroll in Medicare part B when they turn 65 or are planning on coming off of credible employer group coverage. If you are still working after 65 check with your HR department as to the specifics about whether you need enroll in part B.

Colleen Williams · Answer

Even if you decide to take your Medicare at 65, you are not required to take your Social Security benefits. You can always defer your Social Security until age 70 without a problem. You'll still need to apply for Medicare benefits within your initial enrollment period, which begins three months before your 65th birthday.

Answered by Colleen Williams on May 20, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA, FL & NJ

Answered by Colleen Williams Medicare Insurance Agent

Pamela Camey · Answer

Yes, you can receive Medicare Benefits even if you delay taking your Medicare.  You may apply for your Medicare at the age of 65, regardless of when you are planning on taking your social security benefits. You will need to actively apply for Medicare part A and Part B at  
https:// www.ssa.gov. You will also need to pay Medicare directly for you Part B.

Brady Kidwell · Answer

As long as you have creditable covering it won’t affect anything. And what I mean by creditable covering is, prescription drug coverage through your employer or spouses employer.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Each of us have the discretion in picking up their SS entitlement up thru age 73 now. When you register online through SSA.gov, you are asked if you want both Parts A and B. Most of us say yes. Then, you are asked if you want to collect your SS entitlement? You can decline this question without any penalty. When you are getting close to age 70, three months before that, you call 1-800-Medicare to explain your wish to begin its collection.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Timothy Brown · Answer

It dependent on the following:

1) If you are employed and are going to remain on employer coverage, you have the option of signing up for Part A only and delaying Part B until you’re no longer on employee coverage.

2) If you’re delaying Social Security benefits but plan on signing up for Part A & B at the same time, Social Security will bill you quarterly for Medicare Part B.

Diana Garner · Answer

Just because you delay drawing Social Security until 70 doesn't mean you can't enroll in Medicare at 65. You're still eligible for Medicare, and you should enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period to avoid potential penalties or delays in coverage.

If your employer coverage is as good as Medicare coverage, you can delay accepting Medicare Part B, but you should still take Part A.

The only difference between taking Medicare Part B at 65 and waiting until you start drawing Social Security is that you have to pay the Part B premiums out-of-pocket until your Social Security begins. At that time, Medicare Part B premiums will be deducted from your Social Security before you receive your funds.

Gregg Matheny · Answer

Because you will not be recovering social security when you are 65 you will not automatically get Medicare part B. You will need to go to SSA.gov and “apply for Medicare”. I strongly suggest you start this 3 months prior to your 65th birthday month. Additionally, a lot of individuals get part B taken right out of their SS account. You will need to provide SSA with a checking or savings account that they can withdraw a monthly part B premium from.

Answered by Gregg Matheny on April 3, 2025

Agent Licensed in AZ & UT

Answered by Gregg Matheny Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Pyers · Answer

Social Security and Medicare are 2 different programs. You have a limited time - 3 months before and 3 months after you become eligible at 65. However, if you have creditable coverage that is as good as Medicare at your employer (over 20 employees) you may delay enrolling in Medicare until a later date. You will have a limited window to apply then.

Answered by Michael Pyers on May 5, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH & MI

Answered by Michael Pyers Medicare Insurance Agent

DeeDee Whitlock · Answer

As long as you have employer group with more than 20 employees there is nothing you need to do until you decide to retire

Jim Willis · Answer

I need a lot more information to answer your question.
1.  Are you employed
2.  Does your work provide insurance
3.  Do you intend to pay for your Medicare out of pocket
4.  Why are you delaying your Social Security?
5.  If you wait until 70 to collect, the amount you will lose will take you until the age of about 84 to break even.  Contact me direct at jwillisatp@gmail.com for more.

Paul Dzierzanowski · Answer

Since you are not receiving Social Security benefits at age 65, you will need to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B through the Social Security Administration.
 It is important to sign up for Medicare Part A as soon as you are eligible, even if you are still covered by an employer-provided group health plan, to avoid gaps in coverage and potential late enrollment penalties. If you are covered by an employer-provided group health plan, you may be able to delay signing up for Medicare Part B until you retire, but you should check with your employer's benefits representative to confirm this and ensure you do not face penalties.  If you have questions about your specific situation, you can contact me directly at 239.848.8893.

Jeremy Henry · Answer

In this scenario I'm assuming the person will be working until age 70. If that is the case and they are covered under a group health plan with their employer they could possibly defer Medicare part B without penalty. 

To avoid the Part B late enrollment penalties, you must have creditable coverage during the time you delay enrolling in Part B. Creditable coverage means you have coverage that meets Medicare's minimum standards. Most group health plans do.

Several other factors can play into this decision like a cost comparison of the group health plan vs. a Medicare plan, differences in coverage between the plans and if a person has an HSA-qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP). These are just a few of the situations I would go over with my client.

John Lopez · Answer

Assuming you are not working with health coverage available elsewhere, it will not affect your Medicare coverage at all. You will enroll for Medicare Parts A & B through your mySSA account online, and assuming you have premium-free Part A, you will pay your Part B premium directly. Once you do begin collecting Medicare, your Part B premium and part D premium (if you have one) will be deducted automatically from your Social Security check monthly.

Answered by John Lopez on April 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in DE, MD, NC, NJ, NY & PA

Answered by John Lopez Medicare Insurance Agent

Jason Vallejos · Answer

You can delay Social Security Benefits and obtain Medicare at age 65. It will not affect your Social Security retirement benefits.

Steve Brauer · Answer

They are two separate things entirely. You can enroll into Medicare at age 65 or delay it if you are still working and insured by an employer plan, IF your company has more than 20 full time employees. It will not affect your Social Security draw later in life.

Answered by Steve Brauer on April 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ & CA

Answered by Steve Brauer Medicare Insurance Agent

Marcie Barnes · Answer

You can choose to delay Medicare Part B as long as you have credible coverage through employer coverage.  Medicare Part A is premium free and you will be enrollment once you turn 65.

Carol Thompson · Answer

Notify Social security first Of not taking SSI till later but you still need to be sure that you are entitled to Part A and have applied for Part B of Medicare. Especially, if you want a Medicare Advantage plan. 

Often times when people do not take their SSI till later you will not show up on CMS - Medicare’s system therefore you must apply for Medicare.

Todd Bostic · Answer

You will just enroll in Medicare when you turn 70, and you will not be penalized for the delay. Waiting to enroll in Medicare is not uncommon.

Jaye Maxx Alexander II · Answer

You can delay the Social Security until age 70. You can take your Part A coverage when you turn 65, and you can delay your Part B until you fully retire, if you have employer and creditable coverage as good as Medicare. Do you plan on keeping your employer coverage until age 70?

Answered by Jaye Maxx Alexander II on June 2, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC, AK, AL & 47 other states

Answered by Jaye Maxx Alexander II Medicare Insurance Agent

Fran Lovelace · Answer

If you do not have employer health insurance, you will either need to set up a SS.gov account or go to social security to sign up for Medicare A & B before you can choose a medicare supplement or a medicare advantage plan.

Answered by Fran Lovelace on June 8, 2025

Agent Licensed in NC, SC & VA

Answered by Fran Lovelace Medicare Insurance Agent

Bob Nunn · Answer

. You are eligible for Medicare at 65 regardless of your choice to receive Social Security. Go to ssa.gov and on the middle of the page you will see start Medicare Part B , and fill it out which you can do 3 months from birthday month .

Answered by Bob Nunn on April 17, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 36 other states

Answered by Bob Nunn Medicare Insurance Agent

Tony Merwin · Answer

Just requires you to manually enroll in Medicare versus an automatic enrollment had you already been drawing SSI. No other effects.

Julia Alves · Answer

This answer isn’t one-size-fits-all!

If you're turning 65 soon but planning to delay Social Security until age 70, just know that Medicare doesn't automatically start and delaying Social Security doesn't always mean you can delay Medicare.

If you’re still working and have employer coverage, you might be able to delay Part B (and Part D) without a penalty, but it really depends on your specific situation. If you don’t have other qualifying coverage, you’ll need to enroll yourself during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is a 7-month window that starts three months before your birthday month and ends three months after. It’s important to enroll on time to avoid late penalties and make sure you have the coverage you need.

Joley Hanson · Answer

Great question, there are several factors to be considered. Going to a Medicare 101 would be a benefit when making some of those choices. Schedule a review with a licensed agent to discuss your plans.

Lyle Affleck · Answer

Your ability to sign up for Medicare is in no way connected to your starting Social Security payments. You sign up for original Medicare benefits through Social Security, and work with a competent Medicare advisor to get you on the plan you need. You can start looking at Medicare plans 3 months prior to the month you turn 65. You have 7 months to select a plan without incurring any penalties.

Answered by Lyle Affleck on May 19, 2025

Agent Licensed in UT, CO, FL & 8 other states

Answered by Lyle Affleck Medicare Insurance Agent

I'm planning to delay Social Security until age 70, but I'm turning 65 soon. How does this affect my Medicare enrollment?

Agents: Share Your Expertise

Seniors: Ask a Question of Your Own

Related Questions

Agent Locator

Medicare Agents Hub
A non-government resource website

I'm planning to delay Social Security until age 70, but I'm turning 65 soon. How does this affect my Medicare enrollment?

Agents: Share Your Expertise

Seniors: Ask a Question of Your Own

Related Questions

Agent Locator

Medicare Agents HubA non-government resource website

Medicare Agents Hub
A non-government resource website