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As you approach retirement, you may wonder how long you have to sign up for Medicare. Medicare is the federal health insurance program designed to ensure seniors have access to affordable medical care. How long you have to sign up for Medicare after retiring varies depending on when you actually retire. While some seniors retire early, others need to keep working.
How Long Do You Have to Sign Up for Medicare After Retiring?
Medicare eligibility typically starts about three months before you turn 65, which begins the Initial Enrollment Period. Your Initial Enrollment Period then ends three months after your 65th birthday. Enrolling in Medicare during this 7-month window will keep you from facing any form of Medicare penalties. Once you enroll in Medicare, you’ll get a red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. And your coverage will start between the 1 and 3 months after you enroll, depending on when you sign up.
If you retire before reaching 65, you will be responsible for healthcare needs unless you have a disability or specific health problems. This can make you qualify early for Medicare and not make you wait until you are 65 to enroll. If you have a disability, you can automatically be enrolled for both Medicare Parts A and B if you receive disability benefits for 24 months from Social Security or disability benefits for 24 months from the Railroad Retirement Board.
Suppose you are retired but currently have other health insurance in place. In that case, you have the option to delay your enrollment and enroll during a Special Enrollment Period without facing a penalty.
Working After Turning 65
If you continue to work after 65, your option for how long you have to sign up can vary. If you have employer health care insurance, then you don’t have to sign up for Medicare right now.
Typically known as the Medicare Part B SEP, you will get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare Part B when you stop working or your employer stops providing the health care coverage. This 8-month window will start the same month your group health coverage ends or the month after you stop working. The 8-month window is also available to those who are covered under their spouse’s employer health plan.
For more information about how long you have to sign up for Medicare after retiring, feel free to contact Insured For Life to speak with an experienced Medicare expert.
