Medicare auto-enrollment

[DEC-1982]

I just found out that if you start Social Security benefits early and have been getting SS benefits for 4 months before you turn 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and B.

It's a problem for US citizen expats who plan never to use Medicare. How does one get out of this auto-enrollment?

 

[Koolau]

Sorry, first I'd heard of it. I can see how that could be an issue.

 

[Sarah S]

You can decline part b. Part a should be no premium as you had work credits to get ss. How to drop Part A & Part B

 

[DEC-1982]

Thank you Sarah. This information and link are very useful.

 

[wildbilly]

I never heard of that. I did know that you have to ....... "Enroll in Medicare at 65 during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period—3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after your birthday—to avoid penalties."

This "enrolling" is actually registering but not signing up for benefits. It's a very strange rule.

 

[jw72]

I never heard of that. I did know that you have to ....... "Enroll in Medicare at 65 during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period—3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after your birthday—to avoid penalties."

This "enrolling" is actually registering but not signing up for benefits. It's a very strange rule.

I think you are mistaken, While the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is the standard window to join Medicare, enrolling at 65 is not mandatory for everyone. Whether you must enroll to avoid penalties depends entirely on your current health coverage. My wife was on my big company group plan and we had an HSA, we did nothing until I retired and she was 68, no penelty.

 

[Just_Steve]

I started SSDI @63 and was auto enrolled in Medicare A+B @65.

 

[wildbilly]

I think you are mistaken, While the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is the standard window to join Medicare, enrolling at 65 is not mandatory for everyone. Whether you must enroll to avoid penalties depends entirely on your current health coverage. My wife was on my big company group plan and we had an HSA, we did nothing until I retired and she was 68, no penelty.

My guess is you're wrong and are paying a penalty if you didn't enroll during the IEP. I didn't say you had to get Medicare then, just enroll. I know quite a few people who have enrolled within that period and are not taking medicare right away.

 

[jw72]

Nope no penalty. Good thing its not 1986 and we don't have to guess. There are sites like google, ChatGBT, grok and Bing that will tell us what CMS rules are.
Type this: CMS Medicare rule at 65 waiting to sign up with creditable employer coverage.
This is what Google says:
If you are 65+ and working with credible employer coverage (20+ employees), you can delay Medicare Parts B and D without penalties. You receive an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up after your employment or coverage ends, but for Part D specifically. Employer coverage must be based on active employment, meaning COBRA or retiree coverage does not qualify for this exception.

 

[wildbilly]

I stand corrected. Your rule applies. I have never heard of that rule before but it doesn't matter as it won't apply to me.