Medicare Questions & Answers: Social Security
Social Security Q&A
Showing 16 questions
What happens if I am already retired and collecting Social Security when I turn 65?
If you are already retired and collecting Social Security when you turn 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare. Part A, which covers hospital insurance, will begin with no monthly premium if you worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You will also be enrolled in Part B, which covers medical insurance, and the standard monthly premium will be deducted directly from your Social Security check (the amount in 2025 is about $185.00, though higher-income individuals may pay more). About three months before your 65th birthday, you will receive your red, white, and blue Medicare card showing the effective dates for both Part A and Part B. At that point, you’ll need to decide whether to stay with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan plus a Part D prescription drug plan, or choose a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which often combines hospital, medical, and drug coverage in one. If you do nothing, you’ll simply be covered under Original Medicare Parts A and B beginning the month you turn 65.
I've been on disability for years and am about to turn 65. Do I automatically get Medicare because I'm on Social Security, or do I need to do something?
People who have drawn Social Security Disability (SSDI) for at least 2 years are eligible for Medicare even BEFORE turning 65. Enrollment generally occurs in the 25th month of receiving SSDI, usually providing Parts A and B automatically. To be eligible for Part A at no additional cost you must have worked full time in the USA for at least 10 years. If you have NOT drawn SSDI for at least 2 years then you can enroll in Medicare anytime in the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, and up to 3 months after. If you don't enroll in a timely manner then there could be lifetime penalties assessed to your premiums. If you're still confused that's what I'm for, I'd be happy to guide you through the process.Exceptions: The 24-month waiting period is waived for those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
I'm planning to delay Social Security until age 70, but I'm turning 65 soon. How does this affect my Medicare enrollment?
Since you’re planning to delay Social Security until age 70 but are turning 65 soon, it’s important to understand that you will not be automatically enrolled in Medicare. Automatic enrollment only happens if you're already receiving Social Security benefits before age 65. Because you're delaying those benefits, you'll need to actively sign up for Medicare yourself during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is a 7-month window that starts three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birth month, and continues for three months after.At age 65, most people choose to enroll in Medicare Part A, which covers hospital insurance and is usually premium-free if you or your spouse worked at least 10 years. Enrolling in Part A generally makes sense even if you're delaying Social Security. However, Part B—which covers outpatient medical services—has a monthly premium, and whether you should enroll depends on your current health insurance situation. If you have health insurance through your or your spouse’s active employment, and the employer has 20 or more employees, you may be able to delay enrolling in Part B without penalty. But if your coverage is from a smaller employer or you don’t have creditable coverage, it’s important to enroll in Part B during your IEP to avoid late enrollment penalties and gaps in coverage.
Delaying enrollment in Medicare without proper coverage can result in permanent penalties and delayed access to care, so it's critical not to wait until age 70 to make these decisions. If you'd like, I can help you evaluate your current coverage and walk you through the steps for enrolling at the right time.
I thought I signed up for both Part A and B when I got my Social Security, but now I'm getting bills for Part B. Did I miss something during the enrollment period?
Many people believe that when they sign up for Social Security, everything under Medicare is free. That is not exactly how it works.Medicare Part A usually does not have a monthly premium if you worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters, which equals 10 years. If someone worked fewer than 40 quarters, they may have a monthly premium under Part A.
Medicare Part B is different. Part B always has a monthly premium. The standard premium changes each year. For 2026, it is $202.90. Some individuals with higher incomes may pay more due to income IRMAA adjustments.
If you are receiving Social Security benefits, the Part B premium is usually deducted automatically from your monthly check. If you are not yet collecting Social Security, Medicare will send you a quarterly bill.
Receiving a bill does not necessarily mean you missed your enrollment period. It usually just means that Part B has a premium that must be paid directly.
If someone delays enrolling in Part B and does not have other creditable coverage, they face a late enrollment penalty. The penalty is 10 percent for every full 12-month period a person was eligible but not enrolled, and that penalty continues for as long as they have Part B.
If you would like, we can review your enrollment timeline together to make sure everything was processed correctly.
Educational Disclosure:
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not a guarantee of benefits. Medicare premiums, deductibles, and penalties may change annually. Income adjustments may apply. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government or the Medicare program. For official Medicare information, please visit www.medicare.gov
or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Janix Barbosa-Llanos, MBA, PMP, CEP, RSSA, FSN
Licensed Health Insurance Broker
I'm living solely on Social Security of $1,400 monthly and can't afford my Medicare premiums and copays. What assistance programs might help someone in my situation?
I'm Cody Brown, a senior benefits services agent. Today's question is, "I'm living solely on Social Security of $1,400 monthly and can't afford my Medicare premiums and co-pays. What assistance programs might help someone in my situation?"
There are many assistance programs out there for people on Medicare who have a limited income. The two most common ones are Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help with prescription drugs. The Medicare Savings Programs are funded and administered locally through your state Medicaid office. That can help pay for things like your Medicare premium and your health co-pays, or both. You can reach out to your local Medicaid office to see what you might qualify for.
There's also Extra Help with prescription drugs. That's the actual name of the program, and it is run through Social Security. So if you qualify for this program, you could get drastically reduced costs on your prescriptions. Someone who does not qualify for that program typically pays around $100 a month or so for a brand-name prescription on most prescription plans.
This assistance program would limit the amount that you pay for any brand-name prescription to $12.65 and any generic prescription to $5.10. So, there are lots of savings on the table out there for you. If you qualify for some of those programs, just make sure to reach out and see what's available for you.
When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?
This is a common and important question — and the answer is no, you don’t get both. You get whichever is higher.How survivor benefits work:
When your husband passes, you’re entitled to receive his full Social Security benefit as a survivor benefit — but Social Security pays one benefit, not two. You keep whichever amount is larger:
• Your own retirement benefit, or
• His survivor benefit (up to 100% of what he was receiving)
A simple example:
• You receive $1,200/month
• He received $2,200/month
• After his death, you’d receive $2,200 — not $3,400
A few important details:
• You must be at least 60 to claim survivor benefits (50 if disabled)
• If you claim survivor benefits early (before your full retirement age), the amount is reduced
• If you’re already on Medicare, his death does not affect your Medicare coverage — you keep it
• If you were receiving benefits based on his record while he was alive (spousal benefits), those automatically convert to survivor benefits
Strategic timing matters:
If your own benefit is still growing (you haven’t claimed yet), sometimes it makes sense to claim survivor benefits first and switch to your own later — or vice versa. The math varies by situation.
Strong recommendation: Call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov to understand your specific numbers — and consider working with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.
I’m overwhelmed by conflicting advice on when to claim Social Security. Should I take it early at 62, wait for full retirement age, or delay until 70?
The decision of when to start claiming Social Security is a personal one, but generally, waiting until your full retirement age (currently 67) or even delaying until age 70 can lead to a larger monthly benefit. However, early claiming at 62 results in a smaller, but potentially long-term, benefit.Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
1. Full Retirement Age (67):
Benefit:
This is your "baseline" benefit, the full amount you're entitled to based on your work history.
Recommendation:
This is a good starting point to consider, as it balances potential lifetime income with a reasonable level of monthly payments.
2. Delaying to 70:
Benefit:
You'll receive "delayed retirement credits," increasing your monthly benefit by about 8% per year, for each year you wait beyond your full retirement age.
Recommendation:
This option is best for those who believe they will live a long time and want the highest possible monthly benefit in the long run.
3. Claiming Early at 62:
Benefit:
You'll receive a reduced monthly benefit, but you'll start receiving payments sooner.
Recommendation:
This might be a good option if you need the money sooner for immediate financial needs, if your health is a concern, or if you think you'll have a shorter life expectancy.
Factors to consider:
Your life expectancy: If you anticipate a longer life, delaying can be advantageous.
Your current financial situation: Do you need the money now or are you comfortable waiting?
Your health: If you have health concerns, claiming early might make sense.
Other retirement assets: If you have other retirement savings, you may be able to delay Social Security for a larger monthly benefit.
Your work history: The amount of your Social Security benefit is based on your earnings history.
In short:
Delaying to 70: The highest potential monthly benefit, but you'll receive it for fewer years.
Full Retirement Age (67): A good balance between a reasonable monthly benefit and lifetime income.
Claiming at 62: A smaller m
Can I enroll in Medicare if I've never paid into Social Security due to working overseas?
If you are a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (with 5+ years of residency) you CAN enroll in medicare, but your cost will likely be different if you’ve never paid into the system.Part A is premium free if you’ve worked for 40 quarters (10 years) and paid into the system. If you don’t meet that requirement, you can BUY part A coverage.
Part B would be handled the same as everyone else - you’ll pay the premium appropriate for your income.
Your supplemental coverage (Medicare Advantage, Medigap and/or Part D) are based on your medicare eligibility and not based on your social security contributions.
NOTE - Foreign work credits from countries with TOTALIZATION agreements with the US (ie Canada, the UK, Germany) MAY count toward the Social Security eligibility and COULD reduce or eliminate the Part A premium. Also, if you’re married to someone with US Work Credits that can make a difference, so there are a lot of variables to this situation. Social Security can help you determine what comes next.
Does IRMAA go away automatically if my income drops, or do I need to report it to Social Security?
IRMAA does not go away automatically — but the good news is that Social Security does review it every year using your most recent tax data on file, so it can drop on its own without you doing anything, depending on the timing.Here's how it works:
The automatic annual review. Each year, Social Security redetermines your IRMAA surcharge using your tax return from two years prior (so your 2026 IRMAA is based on your 2024 income). If your income naturally fell in that prior year and it's already reflected in the IRS data SSA pulls, your IRMAA will simply be lower or gone when the new year starts — no action needed.
When you should proactively report it. If your income dropped more recently — say in 2025 or 2026 — SSA won't automatically know about it yet because they'd still be looking at older tax data. In that case, you can (and should) request a reconsideration using form SSA-44. The qualifying life-changing events that allow you to appeal early include retirement or reduction in work hours, marriage, divorce or annulment, death of a spouse, loss of income-producing property, loss of pension income, and employer settlement payments.
The process. You file the SSA-44 with Social Security, provide documentation of the income change (like a letter from your employer, or evidence of retirement), and they'll use your more recent estimated income instead of the two-year-old figure. If approved, the lower premium kicks in relatively quickly.
One thing to watch for. If you appeal based on estimated future income and your actual income ends up higher, SSA can come back and collect the difference — so it's best to be conservative in your estimate.
The bottom line: if the income drop already shows up in a tax return SSA has on file, it'll likely resolve itself at the start of the next calendar year. If it's a recent change, filing the SSA-44 is the way to get faster relief.
How do Social Security and Medicare work together for people with disabilities?
When someone is approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), they start receiving a monthly check to help cover their expenses while they’re unable to work. After receiving SSDI for two years (24 months), they automatically qualify for Medicare — even if they haven’t worked during that time. That means they’ll get coverage for hospital care under Part A, doctor visits and medical services under Part B, and they can choose to add Part D for prescriptions or go with a Medicare Advantage plan that includes everything in one.There are a few exceptions to the waiting period. For example, if someone has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — they get Medicare right away as soon as their SSDI benefits begin, without having to wait the two years.
So in simple terms, Social Security provides income support, and Medicare provides the health coverage, working together to make sure people with disabilities are taken care of both financially and medically.
I am on ssi Disability. I turn 65 in June. I also just got Humana health. So does it be change to SSI?? Or does my SSI -Disabiliy just go on til death.
To answer your question, we'll have to make a couple of assumptions first:- If you’ve been receiving SSDI for at least 24 months, you’re already enrolled in Medicare Part A and likely Part B. This is automatic for SSDI recipients, regardless of age.
- Your Humana plan is likely a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which replaces Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and may include Part D (prescription drugs)
If these assumptions are correct, at age 65, your Medicare eligibility continues, but your SSDI benefits will probably convert to Social Security retirement benefits. The monthly payment amount typically stays the same, and your Medicare coverage is unaffected. You don’t need to take action for this conversion; the SSA handles it automatically:
- Since you’re likely already enrolled in Medicare due to SSDI, turning 65 won’t require re-enrollment. Your Medicare Part A and Part B (or your Humana Medicare Advantage plan) continue seamlessly.
- If you’re enrolled in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, it remains active unless you choose to change plans.
That said, turning 65 triggers your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare (3 months before to 3 months after your 65th birthday, April–September 2025). During this period, you can:
- Stay with your current Humana Medicare Advantage plan.
- Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan.
- Return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with or without a Part D plan.
I'd be happy to review the details of your specific situation with you to ensure that you get set up with the best plan(s) for your individual needs!
Can you get Medicare without Social Security?
Yes, you can apply for Medicare benefits without starting your Social Security benefits. In that case, you would be responsible for paying your Part B premium directly until you begin collecting Social Security, at which time the premium is typically deducted from your monthly benefit. You would also need to pay a premium for Medicare Part A if you have not earned the required 40 quarters of paying into Social Security through work history.
Is my Medicare Part B premium automatically deducted from my Social Security check?
Yes, your Medicare Part B premium is automatically deducted from your monthly Social Security check if you are enrolled in both programs. You do not need to take any action to set this up, as it happens automatically.The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month. However, this amount can vary depending on your modified adjusted gross income and is protected by the federal "hold harmless" rule, which prevents your premium increase from being larger than your annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
There are only a few instances where your premium will not be automatically deducted:
YOU ARE NOT COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY: If you delay claiming Social Security benefits but enroll in Medicare Part B, you will receive a bill from Medicare (typically quarterly) to pay directly.
YOUR BENEFIT IS SMALLER THAN THE PREMIUM: If your monthly Social Security check is less than your premium amount, Social Security cannot deduct it, and Medicare will bill you directly for the difference.
YOU QUALIFY FOR A MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM: If your state's Medicaid program covers your Part B premiums, nothing will be deducted from your check.
Does IRMAA reset every year, or does it stay the same once you're assessed?
IRMAA is reviewed every year, so it does not stay locked in once it has been assessed.Social Security usually looks at your tax return from two years earlier. For example, your 2026 IRMAA is generally based on your 2024 income, and your 2027 IRMAA will generally be based on your 2025 income.
That means the surcharge can go up, go down, stay the same, or disappear altogether depending on your income.
The important part is that IRMAA is not a lifetime penalty. If your income drops because you retired, reduced your work hours, lost a spouse, divorced, or experienced another qualifying life change, you may be able to ask Social Security to recalculate it instead of waiting for the normal two-year lookback to catch up.
That is why I tell clients not to look at IRMAA as a one-time Medicare decision. It needs to be reviewed each year as part of the bigger retirement income and healthcare strategy.
If my spouse dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?
Good question! You cannot collect both Social Security benefits in full, but you receive the higher of the two amounts. Social Security combines your earned retirement benefit and your survivor benefit into a single, maximum monthly payment.
Do you automatically get Medicare if you're on Social Security Disability?
The question is, do you automatically get Medicare if you're on Social Security disability?
The way Social Security disability works is that you will qualify for Medicare A and B two years after you're found to be disabled. This is different for everybody. If you win a favorable decision, you can start collecting Social Security disability income. A lot of times you get your Medicare card sent to you automatically because you were found to be disabled years before. If for some reason they found you to be disabled maybe a year before you get your favorable decision, again, you have to wait to that two year mark to start getting Medicare benefits.
A couple things to think about is that a lot of times if you did win a case for Social Security and then you get your Medicare card automatically, you don't always have to keep the Medicare. More importantly, if you have a spouse that has group coverage. Now the caveat to that is normally for most folks turning 65, you could opt out of Medicare for now if you have an employer with 20 or more employees. However, with Social Security disability under 65 Medicare, that company has to have more than 100 employees.
So if you have a spouse that works for an employer that has more than 100 employees and the insurance is better for you, I always say hold off, don't go on Medicare. However, when that time comes, maybe if your spouse retires or if they lose their job, at that point if you do not have insurance through your spouse's employer, you would have to go on Medicare at that time.
Hope that helps.
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