What happens if I delay Medicare Part A enrollment because I'm still on my spouse's employer plan?

Question

Julie Joyce · Accepted Answer

Simple answer is nothing! Although I do suggest signing up for Part A and just delaying Part B, that way you are in the system and when Part B does need to be activated you have a fast turn around time!

Answered by Julie Joyce on March 25, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA, CT, DE & 9 other states

Answered by Julie Joyce Medicare Insurance Agent

Larry Dalton · Answer

Medicare Part A is free to us if you meet the number of paid-in working units required by the Medicare statutes, over the course of your career. Suppose you are under a Medicare-qualified employee group plan at turning 65. In that case, you do not need to take out anything else, and all penalties will be waived until you leave the employee group plan sometime in the future. The Medicare Part A insurance will be utilized with your group insurance for your claims. However, if the Medicare employee group plan does not include prescription drugs, taking on a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan may be necessary to avoid penalties. Your plan needs to be evaluated by a licensed Medicare insurance agent that you trust to ensure the accuracy of your decision.

Answered by Larry Dalton on April 3, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK & TX

Answered by Larry Dalton Medicare Insurance Agent

Diane Andree · Answer

Nothing. As long as you are covered by your spouse's plan, enrolling in Medicare is optional. You may voluntarily enroll in Part A. It's free as long as you or your spouse has worked 10 years (40 quarters) and has been paying into Medicare.

Answered by Diane Andree on April 20, 2025

Agent Licensed in NY

Answered by Diane Andree Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Bleicher · Answer

No, you are confused. Since Part A is totally Free, if you or your wife pitched in and contributed toward Social Security for at least 10 years, you do pick up Part A but decline Part B as THAT is the part with a monthly payment. Once your wife retires, both of you need to get both Parts A and B, about 3 months before her separation from the employer plan.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on May 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Timothy Brown · Answer

Nothing. PA There are no penalties for delaying Part A or B and long as you remain on your spouse's employer plan and the company has over 20 employees. However, you have the option of evaluating to see if if makes financial sense to stay on her employer plan or explore Medicare plan options.

Answered by Timothy Brown on April 15, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, CT, DE & 15 other states

Answered by Timothy Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

Dana Dane · Answer

Enrollment in Medicare Part A is automatic and there is usually no cost to you. Maybe your are thinking about Medicare Part B. As long as your spouse is actively working you could stay on that plan and DELAY MEDICARE PART B enrollment. Please speak to a licensed insurance agent to compare cost and benefits vs. Medicare enrollment with a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plans. Face to face meetings are best.

Answered by Dana Dane on April 14, 2025

Agent Licensed in OR, AZ, CA & 6 other states

Answered by Dana Dane Medicare Insurance Agent

Brenda Trejos · Answer

Nothing really... You can stay on your spouse's employer plan and delay enrolling in Part A until you want to transition to Medicare as your primary coverage. As long as your coverage with your spouse is "credible," meaning there are at least 20 employee's in the Group Plan you have nothing to worry about. That said, there is no problem applying for Part A at 65 because you will not have to pay a premium and that way you will already have a Medicare # in the system when you are ready to start Medicare with Part B. Talk to a licensed Agent that can help you understand this and prepare you with cost to you for their expertise.

Answered by Brenda Trejos on May 22, 2025

Broker Licensed in CO, AR, AZ & 28 other states

Answered by Brenda Trejos Medicare Insurance Agent

Fred Manas · Answer

If you are covered by your spouse's employer health plan, you can delay enrolling in Medicare Part A without penalty, as long as you enroll within eight months of your employer coverage ending or your spouse retiring, whichever comes first. You also won't face penalties for delaying Part B if you enroll within eight months of losing your spouse's employer coverage. 
Elaboration:
Special Enrollment Period:
You have a special enrollment period when you can sign up for Medicare without penalties. This period begins when your employer coverage ends or your spouse retires. 
Employer Size:
The special enrollment period and waiver of late enrollment penalties apply regardless of the number of employees your spouse's employer has. 
Part A:
If you qualify for premium-free Part A, you can enroll in Part A, but delay enrollment in Part B until your group coverage through your spouse's employer plan ends. 
Part B:
If you have creditable coverage under your spouse's employer plan, you can choose to delay Part B enrollment until after you lose that coverage. 
Late Enrollment Penalties:
If you don't enroll in Part B during your special enrollment period, you may have to pay a monthly late enrollment penalty. This penalty increases by 10% of the Part B premium for each 12-month period you delay enrollment. 
HSA:
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) with your employer plan, enrolling in Part A or Part B will affect your ability to contribute to it, according to HealthPartners. You can't make new HSA contributions after enrolling in Medicare Part A or Part B.

Gary Henderson · Answer

Nothing happens. However, it is to your advantage to enroll in part A because it's free 
Part A is for hospitalizations so the way it would work is if you went to the hospital. Typically your employer plan pays first and then Medicare will pay next. It will reduce your hospital bill. There is no downside to signing up for part A 
And you should also talk to a professional as to whether you'd be better off being on a Medicare supplement plan 
Oftentimes it's cheaper. If your employer makes you pay a lot of money for your health care for having a spouse on it, it can be better coverage at a lower cost to go on a Medicare supplement plan

Robert Simm · Answer

It seems like Medicare has a penalties for their coverage whether it's A, B, D. I would recommend enrolling into part A since it is free to you and your entitled to it and your wife's employer insurance will be the primary and Part A would be the secondary if your were hospitalized. If you decide to stay on your wife's employer plan then I would recommend to delay the Part B premium but Medicare does have specifications for group coverage that must be followed to avoid the Part B penalty.

Answered by Robert Simm on April 7, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC, AL, AR & 15 other states

Answered by Robert Simm Medicare Insurance Agent

Wild Bill Anderson · Answer

Part A does not usually come at a cost unless you (or your spouse) worked less than 10 years paying into Medicare. So there is no reason to delay Part A. Part B does come with a monthly premium so if you (or your spouse) are still working and they have a great plan at low cost then you ca delay joining Part B because you have credible coverage from your employer. Once you stop working then you should sign up for Part B and we can talk about plans that help with the gaps in A & B.

Answered by Wild Bill Anderson on April 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA

Answered by Wild Bill Anderson Medicare Insurance Agent

Chuck Winslow · Answer

To be honest nothing will happen. However,  you have nothing to loose by taken part A now! Happy to help

Andy Kelly · Answer

Nothing really :-) But there is no reason to delay because there is no out of pocket expense at 65 to start your Part A. I encourage clients to start their Part A and just have it as back up to their spouses' insurance.

Answered by Andy Kelly on May 15, 2025

Agent Licensed in WA & OR

Answered by Andy Kelly Medicare Insurance Agent

What happens if I delay Medicare Part A enrollment because I'm still on my spouse's employer plan?

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