I’m over 65, not enrolled in Part A or B, and leaving active coverage through an employer with 20+ employees for six months of COBRA. Can I enroll when COBRA ends if I’m still within the eight-month period from when my active coverage ended?

Question

Voss Speros · Accepted Answer

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Kristina Guerry · Answer

Yes, you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare but it is not based off of COBRA. It is based off when your employer coverage ends. COBRA is only creditable for delaying your Medicare Part D plan. That is, as long as the COBRA is considered creditable coverage for Part D. I would recommend having a conversation with a broker one to two months prior to your employer coverage ending to have a plan and confirm that you understand everything.

Answered by Kristina Guerry on June 30, 2026

Broker Licensed in SC, AL, AR & 45 other states

Answered by Kristina Guerry Medicare Insurance Agent

Trever Dahms · Answer

No, once your active employer coverage ends, your 8-month Special Enrollment Period starts immediately, and COBRA doesn't extend or pause it. So even if you elect 6 months of COBRA, you still need to enroll in Part A and B within 8 months of your active coverage ending, not 8 months from when COBRA runs out. Waiting until COBRA ends would put you outside the SEP window and risk a late enrollment penalty plus a potential gap in coverage.

Answered by Trever Dahms on June 30, 2026

Broker Licensed in FL, NC, SC & WI

Answered by Trever Dahms Medicare Insurance Agent

Kim Humphries · Answer

Yes,  you can sign up for Parts A & B anytime after leaving work.  You have 8 months to start your medicare, but you should do it sooner rather then later.  You should compare the costs between
Medicare and your cobra.  Many times the Medicare A, B, D and a supplement are cheaper then the cobra.  You should at lease compare and contrast those.  It depends on your income a lot of times.  Kim H.

Veronica Giron · Answer

Leaving employer coverage with 20+ employees qualifies you for an 8-month SEP to enroll in Medicare parts A & B. Cobra does not extend or restart the 8-month SEP, the clock starts when the employer coverage ends.

Answered by Veronica Giron on June 30, 2026

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

Answered by Veronica Giron Medicare Insurance Agent

I’m over 65, not enrolled in Part A or B, and leaving active coverage through an employer with 20+ employees for six months of COBRA. Can I enroll when COBRA ends if I’m still within the eight-month period from when my active coverage ended?

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I’m over 65, not enrolled in Part A or B, and leaving active coverage through an employer with 20+ employees for six months of COBRA. Can I enroll when COBRA ends if I’m still within the eight-month period from when my active coverage ended?

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