Why You’re Seeing This Page

We keep track of important milestones for our clients. Turning 65 is one of them.

Medicare has specific timing rules, and getting familiar with them early can make the process much easier. This page is here to walk you through the basics in plain language — no pressure, no industry talk, just helpful information.

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older, and for some people under 65 with certain disabilities.

Most people start with Original Medicare, which includes:

• Part A — Hospital coverage
• Part B — Medical coverage

After that, you may have choices about how the rest of your coverage is set up. The first step is understanding the basics.

What Happens After You Enroll in Original Medicare?

Once you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you will have a decision to make about how you want your coverage set up moving forward. Most people think of this as choosing a path.

A Simple Timeline for Turning 65

Medicare is easier when you do not wait until the last minute. Here is a simple way to think about the months leading up to your 65th birthday.

When Is the Right Time to Enroll?

For many people, Medicare starts around age 65. But the right timing can depend on whether you are still working, whether your spouse is still working, and what kind of health coverage you have now.

If You Are Retired or Not Covered Through Current Employment

If you are not working and do not have health coverage through your own current employer or your spouse’s current employer, you will usually want to look closely at enrolling in Medicare when you first become eligible.

If You or Your Spouse Is Still Working

Some people can delay Medicare Part B if they are covered by an employer group health plan based on current employment. This may apply if the coverage comes through your job or your spouse’s job.

This is different from retiree coverage, COBRA, Marketplace coverage, or coverage that is not connected to active employment. Those situations may have different rules.

What About “Creditable Coverage”?

You may hear the phrase creditable coverage. This is especially important for prescription drug coverage. In simple terms, it means your drug coverage is expected to pay, on average, at least as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage.

If you delay Medicare drug coverage, you will want to know whether your current prescription coverage is considered creditable. Your employer or plan should be able to tell you.

Medicare and Social Security Are Connected — But Not the Same

This is one of the most common points of confusion.

You may be eligible for Medicare at age 65, but your Full Retirement Age for Social Security may be later, often between age 66 and 67 depending on your birth year.

That means you may enroll in Medicare before you start taking Social Security retirement benefits.

If you are already receiving Social Security before age 65, you may be enrolled in Medicare automatically. If you are not receiving Social Security yet, you may need to sign up for Medicare yourself.

You can learn more directly from Medicare.gov and SSA.gov.

How Do You Enroll in Medicare?

Most people enroll in Medicare through the Social Security Administration.

You can usually enroll:

• Online through Social Security
• By phone
• In person at a local Social Security office

If you worked for a railroad, your Medicare enrollment may go through the Railroad Retirement Board instead.

Local Help From an Agency You Already Know

Roger L. Daniel Insurance has served families in Montana and Wyoming since 1952.

If we already help with part of your insurance, Medicare is simply another important conversation to have at the right time.