It depends on your employer's size and your coverage. Get this wrong and you can owe a permanent penalty — here is how to get it right.
You can usually delay Part B without penalty and stay on your employer's group plan. When that coverage ends, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B penalty-free. Many people still take premium-free Part A at 65.
Medicare usually becomes your primary coverage, so you generally should enroll at 65 during your Initial Enrollment Period — delaying can leave gaps and trigger penalties. Confirm with your benefits administrator.
If you delay without qualifying employer coverage, the Part B late penalty is 10% per full year — permanently. Always verify whether your coverage counts as creditable before delaying.
One catch: you cannot contribute to an HSA once you're enrolled in any part of Medicare, including premium-free Part A. If you want to keep contributing, you may need to delay all of Medicare — plan the timing carefully.
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New here? Start for $7.49 →Often yes, if your employer has 20+ employees and you have creditable group coverage. You get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Part B penalty-free when that coverage ends.
Not if you have qualifying employer coverage from an employer with 20+ employees. Without creditable coverage, the Part B penalty is 10% per year, permanently.
No. You cannot contribute to an HSA once enrolled in any part of Medicare, including premium-free Part A.
Figures on this page are verified against U.S. government primary sources: