When can my wife get Medicare ?

[cyber888]

So I turn 62 in Jan 2. 2026 and will get my Social Security benefit.
My wife will also get her Social Security spousal benefit based on my earnings - she's 70+, so she can get Medicare.
We already made an appointment for her SS filing on Dec. 10 at a local Social Security office. I did my application online last Sept. 15, 2025.
Most likely we will get our first Social Security income in Feb. 1st 2026 ?
When can she apply for Medicare? Feb. 1st? or January 2026 ? if we want it deducted from her SS paycheck.

 

[teej1985]

She could have got Medicare when she turned 65. I hope there's not 5 years of permanent penalties tacked on...

 

[audreyh1]

If his DW was covered by his company health insurance than she’ll be OK.

 

[skipro33]

For Medicare Part B, if you do not sign up when first eligible and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (such as working past 65 with employer coverage), you will have to pay a lifetime late enrollment penalty. This penalty increases your monthly premium by 10% for each full 12-month period you were eligible but did not enroll. This penalty lasts for as long as you have Part B coverage. If she was employed and if the employer coverage is considered "creditable" (meaning it is at least as good as Medicare coverage), the person can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B without penalty. This exception applies as long as they enroll within 8 months after their employer coverage ends.
This is the same if she's covered by the spouse's medical/health insurance.

 

[athena53]

This is the same if she's covered by the spouse's medical/health insurance.

I don't think so. DH was covered by my employer's health insurance from age 65, when we married, until I retired. I was 61, he was 76. We immediately signed him up for Medicare, with letters from my two employers during the time he was on my employer's policy between ages 65 and 76, verifying that he'd had "creditable coverage". There were no penalties.

 

[teej1985]

I don't think so. DH was covered by my employer's health insurance from age 65, when we married, until I retired. I was 61, he was 76. We immediately signed him up for Medicare, with letters from my two employers during the time he was on my employer's policy between ages 65 and 76, verifying that he'd had "creditable coverage". There were no penalties.

You disagree, but your description supports what he said.

 

[skipro33]

I don't think so. DH was covered by my employer's health insurance from age 65, when we married, until I retired. I was 61, he was 76. We immediately signed him up for Medicare, with letters from my two employers during the time he was on my employer's policy between ages 65 and 76, verifying that he'd had "creditable coverage". There were no penalties.

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. A person is covered by their OR their spouse's employer medical plan and it's as good or better than Medicare, then there will be no penalties. Glad to know you are able to confirm this as a fact though!

 

[cyber888]

Thanks. Yes, my wife has been covered by my Work Insurance until 2023. So we might be paying 2 years of penalty.

 

[teej1985]

Thanks. Yes, my wife has been covered by my Work Insurance until 2023. So we might be paying 2 years of penalty.

That's a permanent 20% penalty for the rest of her life, I believe. How was she insured during those two years?

 

[cathy63]

That's a permanent 20% penalty for the rest of her life, I believe. How was she insured during those two years?

Does that penalty still apply if cyber888 was under age 62 for the past two years? Assuming the wife doesn't qualify on her own work record, then I didn't think she was obligated to apply for Part A or Part B until her spouse turned 62. Part A would not have been free for her until her spouse reached age 62.

 

[teej1985]

Does that penalty still apply if cyber888 was under age 62 for the past two years? Assuming the wife doesn't qualify on her own work record, then I didn't think she was obligated to apply for Part A or Part B until her spouse turned 62. Part A would not have been free for her until her spouse reached age 62.

That's an interesting question. I have no idea, and wasn't aware of that rule. Still curious how she would have been insured as a post-65 person not covered by an employer plan, as it seems like it would be very expensive as that is a super uncommon scenario.

 

[orchid55]

That's an interesting question. I have no idea, and wasn't aware of that rule. Still curious how she would have been insured as a post-65 person not covered by an employer plan, as it seems like it would be very expensive as that is a super uncommon scenario.

I believe that you can still buy an ACA policy after age 65 if you are not eligible for Medicare.

 

[cyber888]

That's a permanent 20% penalty for the rest of her life, I believe. How was she insured during those two years?

ACA Healtcare.gov

 

[cathy63]

ACA Healtcare.gov

There's probably no penalty then. You should sit down with someone from SSA and talk this through.