There are some special circumstances in which you can sign up late for Medicare without paying penalties. After the initial enrollment period, you  can sign up  for optional programs during  special enrollment periods . If you or your spouse continued working past your 65th birthday and had health insurance through your employer, you won’t have to pay a penalty for late enrollment in any of the Medicare programs. Beginning the month after you end your employment, or when your

The  penalties  for not enrolling when you are first eligible for Medicare depend on the part of Medicare. Part A If you choose not to sign up for  Medicare Part A  when you become eligible, a penalty may be assessed. This penalty depends on why you chose not to sign up. If you simply chose not to sign up when you were first eligible, your monthly premium — if you have to pay one — will increase by  10%  for twice the number of years that you went without signing up. For exam

Medicare isn’t exactly mandatory, but it can be complicated to decline. Late enrollment  comes with  penalties, and some parts of the program are optional to add, like Medicare parts C and D. Medicare parts A and B are the foundation of Medicare, though, and to decline these comes with consequences. The  Social Security Administration (SSA)  oversees enrollment in the Medicare program and recommends signing up for Medicare when you are initially eligible, even if you don’t pl

If you’re thinking about deferring Medicare, discuss the pros and cons with your current insurer, union representative, or employer. It’s important to know how or if your current plan will work with Medicare, so you can choose the most comprehensive coverage possible. Some of the common reasons you may  choose to defer  Medicare enrollment include: You have a plan through an  employer  that you want to keep. You want to keep contributing to a  health savings account (HSA) . Y

You can opt out of Medicare, but you may lose your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. Additionally, if you initially decline Medicare coverage, you may be subject to a penalty if you decide to enroll later. Medicare is a public health insurance program designed for individuals age 65 and over and people with disabilities. The program covers hospitalization and other medical costs at free or reduced rates. The hospitalization portion, Medicare Part A, usual

Article from MEDICARE.GOV Medicare fraud and abuse can happen anywhere. It’s important that you protect your Medicare card, number, and other personal information, and check your Medicare claims regularly. What are some examples of Medicare fraud? To help spot and prevent Medicare fraud and abuse: Compare the dates and services on your calendar with the Medicare statements you get to make sure you got each service listed and that all the details are correct. Protect your pers

The federal government shut down at 12:01 AM Wednesday, October 1st, after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to pass a short-term funding bill, which would have financed government operations for fiscal year 2026. It is the first government shutdown since January 2019. According to the  Washington Post,  the disagreement is over enhanced ACA subsidies, which were originally implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The enhanced subsidies led to record-high enrollment in ACA p

Medicare and Medicaid look and sound alike, but are actually very different.  One is a federal healthcare program for seniors. The other...

The Stopping Addiction & Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, a bipartisan bill before Congress, could soon make it easier for Medicare...

Medicare Annual Open Enrollment is drawing near, and in late September, you should receive your Annual Notice of Change , a document you...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is notifying approximately 103,000 Medicare beneficiaries that their personal information...

In 1985, only 10% of Americans over the age of 65 were still in the workforce. Today, that percentage has doubled to 20%. By 2025, some...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has finalized a rule that limits Medicare Advantage plans' ability to reopen and modify an...

Turning 65 while receiving Social Security benefits means automatic enrollment in Medicare Part A (hospital coverage, often free) and...

How do Social Security and Medicare work together? They are separate programs, but the Social Security Administration handles enrollment...

The Inflation Reduction Act is making Medicare stronger and more affordable. Key changes include: Lower drug costs: Medicare can now...