Do I have to apply for Medicare if I am still working past 65?

Question

Angie Templin · Accepted Answer

If you are happy with your creditable employer plan, or if you are carry dependants on that plan, you can delay Medicare without penalties. You will get a special election to enroll in Medicare when you retire or when your dependants are eligible for other coverage. You can enroll in Medicare Part A only this time since it is generally free of premium. If you contribute to an HSA, delay Part A for now -IRS rules do not allow HSA contributions once you have a Medicare number!

Answered by Angie Templin on May 9, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX

Answered by Angie Templin Medicare Insurance Agent

Gary Church · Answer

Depends on whether your company has more than 20 employees; if so, then no, you do not have to enroll. If fewer than 20 employees, then yes, you must enroll in Medicare Part A &B

Tony Capraro III · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/do-i-have-to-apply-for-medicare-if-i-am-still-working-past-65-#tony-capraro

Bill Wheeler · Answer

At 65  you are automatically eligible for part A if you have worked ten years or forty quarters. I would go on and get that. 
On part B if you work for a large company (more than 20 employees)  you can put off part B to a later date since you pay $185.00
A month for it. ob, you can delay enrolling in Part B without penalty until you retire or your employer coverage ends. You'll then have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Part B without penalty.

Nikki Rowland · Answer

You don’t have to apply for Medicare at 65 if you're still working—but it depends on your situation. 

Your employer coverage needs to be considered "credible coverage". That typically means they have 20 or more employees and the coverage is as good or better than Medicare. You can ask the HR department of your job and they would be able to tell you this answer.

If your coverage is NOT considered "credible" then yes, you would need to apply for Medicare. Some employers coverage may require you to take your Part B along with theirs. 

There are so many different situations.

Voss Speros · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/do-i-have-to-apply-for-medicare-if-i-am-still-working-past-65-#voss-speros

Richard Moreno · Answer

You will be automatically enrolled in Part A if you have enough credits, If you are still working you can continue to work and be insured through your employers group insurance. Once you retire, then you must enroll in Part B and have a document stating you had creditable coverage from the the HR department. and you must enroll in a Part D plan within 63 days. Or, you can choose to enroll in Medicare at 65 and drop your employer plan.

Answered by Richard Moreno on July 3, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, FL, LA, NM & OH

Answered by Richard Moreno Medicare Insurance Agent

Paul Potter · Answer

Only if you do not have insurance coverage from your employer.  You should compare costs and benefits of Medicare and your current plan.  If you want help, I am here.

Paul Potter

Nick Mangini · Answer

You are not required to apply for Medicare at 65 but it is usually financially better to get Medicare and a Supplement Plan since the coverage is usually better than any group plan and it's all covered 100% with Plan G!

Answered by Nick Mangini on August 24, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, AZ & 31 other states

Answered by Nick Mangini Medicare Insurance Agent

Esther Miller · Answer

It depends. If you have credible health insurance through your employer, the answer is no as long as you keep your healthcare coverage and you are also entitled to Medicare Part A hospital coverage in addition to your work insurance. If you currently don't have any employer sponsored insurance or only catastrophic insurance, then yes you will want to sign as soon you are eligible for both A and B coverage and talk to a Medicare Health Insurance agent.

Answered by Esther Miller on June 16, 2025

Agent Licensed in WA

Answered by Esther Miller Medicare Insurance Agent

Eli Roque · Answer

The general rule is at age 65 if you have worked over 10 years or 40 quarter you will be intitled to PART A HOSITAL and which the premium was played with payroll deductions and then enrolling into PART B MEDICAL which then will be accompany with a monthly premium for PART B on a monthly basic normally deducted from your social security check. If we are still working, we must have creditable insurance though our employer if not true and we do not apply for PART B Durning our initial period, the month of our birthday, and three months after our birthday) then we will find 10% for every 12 months period that we don't apply.

Answered by Eli Roque on July 10, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ, CA, FL & 8 other states

Answered by Eli Roque Medicare Insurance Agent

Alondra Arce · Answer

If you’re still working past 65 and have good health insurance through your job, you might not need to sign up for Medicare right away but it depends on your employer size and coverage. Always check to avoid late penalties later!

Answered by Alondra Arce on May 9, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AR & 14 other states

Answered by Alondra Arce Medicare Insurance Agent

Sandra Bailey · Answer

No, you do not have to apply for Medicare if you're 65 and still working. As long as you work for a company that offers credible medical insurance.  Credible insurance, meaning you work for a company with 20 or more employees. You can remain on your group plan.

Once you leave the company, you'll obtain a letter from HR stating you had coverage and when it ended.  Then you can enroll in Medicare Part B.  

You can enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) even if you're still working.  This can be additional hospital coverage to go along with your work plan.

Melanie McCloud · Answer

When deciding whether or not to apply for Medicare if you still plan to work after 65, it is more important than ever to sit down with your trusted broker to discuss options. Many people decide to enroll in Part A because there is typically no monthly premium, however factors such as contributing to an HSA could influence your decision on whether or not to do that. Another top consideration is that you lose your trial right when you do not apply for Part A at 65. 

Read more about trial rights below

Trial Right 1:
.
When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time when you turn 65, you have 12 months to switch back to Original Medicare with a Medigap policy.

Trial Right 2:
.
If you switch from a Medigap policy to a Medicare Advantage plan, and then later decide you want to go back to Original Medicare, you have 12 months to do so.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Yes. One of the biggest fallacies in medicine is that one must retire in order to be eligible for Medicare. This is the farthest from the truth! You are entitled to work for as long as you want. But just before you turn 65, you should compare the health benefits of your employer plan vs. Medicare. Unless you’re working for a large corporation, it is likely that the Medicare system is a better fit (both from a health perspective as well as from a monetary standpoint) than from the employer program. You can still work in your current job and simply tell your firm that they no longer need to pay for your health insurance. This means that they are off the hook (saving them money) AND since they don’t have to pay your healthcare policy, you will see a raise in your subsequent paychecks!

Answered by Steven Bleicher on August 2, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Barbara Barnes, CMIP® · Answer

Probably yes, but there are a lot of details that go into this decision that you need to consider. 

If you work for a small employer with less than 20 employees, Medicare will become your Primary coverage once you’re eligible and your plan at work will only pay what Medicare does not cover - usually deductibles and the 20% coinsurance. Some employer plans will only pay the secondary portion even if you never signed-up for Medicare, and that would potentially leave you responsible for 80% of the bill on your own if you have not signed-up for Medicare Parts A & B.

If you have an HSA that you or your employer puts money into, you must stop adding money to that account once you’re eligible and have Medicare - even if you only have Medicare Part A. For this reason, you might choose to delay enrollment into Medicare.

If you are paying a part of the premium for your health plan at work or if you have a high deductible, you may want to take Medicare instead of your coverage at work. It may cost less and/or cover more.

There are so many different scenarios that require careful consideration when you work past age 65 and become eligible for Medicare. You should speak with an expert before making decisions to be sure you’re doing everything correctly for the outcomes you want and to avoid penalties later.

Anna Davis CIC-RSSA · Answer

You should apply for Part A anyway—especially if you’ve worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters), as it’s usually premium-free.
Turning 65 is considered a qualifying life event, which means you have the right to leave your employer health plan if you choose to.
So what should you do?
Speak with a licensed Medicare agent in your area.
Compare the Medicare plans available in your ZIP code. Compare those plans to your current employer coverage.
Look at:
Monthly premium costs -  Doctor network access - Out-of-pocket costs (deductibles, copays, and max limits)
If Medicare offers better value—and in many cases it does—you can add Part B to your application and drop your employer coverage.
If not, you can keep your employer plan and Part A only until you retire. Later on, you can always enroll in Part B with no penalty, as long as you had creditable coverage.

James Stang · Answer

No, as long as you have credible coverage after you are eligible for Medicare you do not have to enroll. But you may want to enroll in Part A anyway. In most cases it does not have a premium, you have already paid for it by working 40 quarters and paying payroll tax, and it could help reduce your costs if you have a inpatient hospital stay. 

You can apply for Part B when you are ready to drop your Employer Group Health Plan.

Heidi Delaney · Answer

As long as your employer group plan is creditable under Medicare, you do not need to apply for Medicare.  Employers are required to provide this information in September/October each year.  That said, you may be surprised to find that Medicare is more cost-effective for you.  It's good to compare costs and options side by side each year.

If, however, your employer group plan is not creditable, you will need to enroll in Medicare Parts A, B, and D to avoid late enrollment penalties.

Jeremy Purse · Answer

It depends. As long as you have credible health coverage you can delay applying for Medicare. If you don’t have credible health coverage, you will be penalized if don’t apply for Medicare when you turn 65.

Answered by Jeremy Purse on May 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA, AL, AZ & 5 other states

Answered by Jeremy Purse Medicare Insurance Agent

Tammy Chase · Answer

If you are still working and have group coverage through your employment,no, you do not have to apply for your Medicare. It would still be worth your time to compare your options. Sometimes it is much better coverage on Medicare and it can be cheaper.

Answered by Tammy Chase on July 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in AR, AL, AZ & 13 other states

Answered by Tammy Chase Medicare Insurance Agent

Andrew Kramer · Answer

That depends. If you have an ACA plan (Affordable Care Act), then you must sign up for Medicare at age 65. But if you are on employer health insurance, the rule from Medicare is that you can keep your group health insurance, and not be penalized later for not taking Part B, if 20 or more employees are on the group plan. Not just employed, but on the group health plan. Second rule, does the drug plan of your group health meet Medicare's minimum requirements of Part D? If not, you will need to sign up for a Medicare Part D plan. Lastly, it's important to compare the cost of your group health plan, including the premium, deductible, co-pays and max out-of-pocket, to paying for Medicare Part B and either choosing an Advantage plan, or a supplement.

Answered by Andrew Kramer on May 9, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Andrew Kramer Medicare Insurance Agent

Todd Bostic · Answer

Actually you can postpone Medicare until you are ready for it to begin. To get full benefits, you have to wait until you are 70 anyway.

Toni Chavez · Answer

Thanks for your question!  

If you’ve worked at least 10 years (that’s 40 quarters), Part A usually kicks in automatically the month you turn 65.

You can hold off on Part B if you’re still working and have credible coverage through your employer — but keep in mind, employer coverage is often more expensive than Medicare. I always do a comparison for my clients to see what actually makes the most sense financially.

If you don’t have employer coverage or any other creditable coverage, it’s important to enroll in Medicare at 65 — otherwise, you could face lifetime penalties.

When you’re ready to retire, I always recommend working with a broker (like me!) to help you apply for Part B. There are forms that need to be filled out and sent to Social Security, and I help walk my clients through that step-by-step — no cost to you.

Once you’ve got Part B in place, I can help you compare all the Medicare plan options in your area and get you enrolled in a plan that fits your needs and budget.

Working with a broker gives you peace of mind — not just when you first enroll in Medicare, but every year after that.

Hope this helps.  

Be Well,
Toni Chavez
Medicare Broker

Gary Haft · Answer

Normally you are automatically on Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) as of the first day of the month of your 65th birthday, even though you have not applied for it. Do you have to apply for Medicare Part B? No - not while you are still working, whether you are on your employers group health plan or an individual health plan. If your group has 20 or less employees on the group plan, then Medicare is Primary and you may be required to enroll in Medicare in order to have coverage. If the group is larger than 20 employees (21 or more) then Medicare is secondary to your group plan and your plan pays first and Medicare pays second. I don't recommend that anyone enroll in Medicare if they are still working unless they are required to. Besides, if you are on the group plan and NOT enrolled in Medicare, you do not have to pay the Medicare Part B fee.

Answered by Gary Haft on May 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, DC & 9 other states

Answered by Gary Haft Medicare Insurance Agent

Douglas Carney · Answer

The answer hinges on your situation. Suppose you’re still working and covered by an employer health plan with 20 or more employees. In that case, you can delay Medicare Part B (and Part D, if your plan includes creditable drug coverage) without penalty until you retire. However, you should enroll in Part A at 65—it’s usually premium-free and may supplement your employer plan. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare becomes primary, so you must enroll in Parts A and B at 65 to avoid gaps or penalties (8.33%–10% premium hikes for late Part B enrollment).

Answered by Douglas Carney on May 10, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, GA, NC, OK & TX

Answered by Douglas Carney Medicare Insurance Agent

Sophia Davis · Answer

If you have the working quarters, Part A will go into effect automatically. You are not required to take Part B as long as your employer offers Medical and has more than 20 employees. You should always talk to an Agent to go over your specific circumstances.

Answered by Sophia Davis on June 9, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH & PA

Answered by Sophia Davis Medicare Insurance Agent

Deborah Lee · Answer

You should be automatically enrolled in Part A. Part B is your choice if you have Group Health Insurance that is your choice.

Hector Vazquez · Answer

While Medicare Part A is automatic for most people turning 65 who have enough work credits, enrollment in Part B is not automatic. If you do not have other creditable health coverage, you must actively apply for Part B to avoid late enrollment penalties.

If you will continue to have employer coverage or another form of insurance when you turn 65, confirm that it is considered "creditable coverage" by Medicare standards. Having creditable coverage allows you to delay enrolling in Part B without incurring a late enrollment penalty once your other coverage ends.

Curtis Stoner · Answer

If You’re Still Working at 65
You may delay Medicare Part B (and Part D) without penalty if:

You have credible coverage through your or your spouse’s current employer

The employer has 20 or more employees

In this case:

You do not need to enroll in Part B at 65.

You can enroll later using a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you retire or lose group coverage.

Gabrielle Sones · Answer

No, you can apply for Medicare once you're done working without penalty as long as you had credible coverage through your employer. I would still work with your current health plan and a broker to evaluate both options to see which is best for your needs and budget.

Answered by Gabrielle Sones on May 13, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AZ, FL & 7 other states

Answered by Gabrielle Sones Medicare Insurance Agent

Johnnie Jeter · Answer

Yes, you can delay signing up as long as you have coverage from your employer specifically concerning part B, however, when your employment ends, or you happen to lose coverage with employer. you have eight months to Enroll in Medicare.

Answered by Johnnie Jeter on August 13, 2025

Broker Licensed in GA & OH

Answered by Johnnie Jeter Medicare Insurance Agent

Silvana Peacock · Answer

It depends. If you are still working past 65 and have creditable employer coverage (20+ employees), you usually can delay Medicare Part B without penalty. However many people still choose to enroll in Part A at 65, since is premium-free for most and can serve as secondary hospital coverage.

Answered by Silvana Peacock on May 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, MI, NC, NJ, SC & VA

Answered by Silvana Peacock Medicare Insurance Agent

Beverlyn Everage · Answer

You don’t have to apply for Medicare at 65 if:
You have creditable health coverage through your employer or your spouse’s employer, and

The employer has 20 or more employees.

In this case, you can delay Medicare Part B and Part D without penalty and enroll later through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when your employment or coverage ends.

Debra Hartman · Answer

If you are working and have full health and creditable drug coverage you do not have to enroll in Medicare.
You can enroll in Medicare Part A at the time you turn 65 years old if you want, it will not cost you anything.

Destin Marks · Answer

Generally, if you're still working past 65 and covered by your employer's plan, you can delay enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B until you lose that coverage.

Susan Diamond · Answer

When considering Medicare enrollment, the size of your employer is a key factor to evaluate.

Are you working for a large employer or a small employer? Let’s break it down:

If you’re turning 65 and covered by a large employer’s health plan (with 20 or more employees), your group health plan will remain your primary coverage, while Medicare takes a secondary role. In this scenario, enrolling in Medicare Part A or Part B may not be necessary. 

However, many people choose to enroll in Part A since it typically doesn’t have a monthly premium if you’re eligible. I recommend holding off on Part B, as it does come with a monthly premium. There’s no need to pay for both your group plan and Part B when your group plan is already taking care of your primary coverage. Instead, you can enroll in Part B later, such as when you retire or leave your group plan, without incurring a penalty because your group coverage qualifies as creditable employment-based insurance.

Now, let’s look at the situation if your employer has fewer than 20 employees. In this case, Medicare becomes your primary insurance, and your group health plan shifts to secondary coverage. This means you’ll need to enroll in both Part A and Part B to maintain full coverage. 

Understanding how Medicare coordinates with your employer’s health plan is essential for making the right choice and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Do I have to apply for Medicare if I am still working past 65?

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Do I have to apply for Medicare if I am still working past 65?

Agents: Share Your Expertise

Seniors: Ask a Question of Your Own

Agent Locator

Medicare Agents HubA non-government resource website

Medicare Agents Hub
A non-government resource website