While Actively Employed:

  • Initial Enrollment Period is the 3 months before your 65th birthday, the month you turn 65, and 3 months after the month you turn 65.
  • Recommend enrolling in Medicare Part A when you or your spouse first become eligible, but it is not required. 
  • You and/or your eligible spouse do not need to enroll in Medicare B & D while enrolled under your active employer plan, unless eligibility for Medicare is due to End Stage Renal Disease. 
  • A domestic partner may be subject to Medicare penalties if they do not enroll in Medicare A, B, D when first eligible and may not be eligible for the “special enrollment period”.  For additional information, contact Social Security/Medicare directly.

When you retire or lose benefit eligibility - already Medicare eligible (age 65):

  • When does your Active Employee Coverage Terminate
  • Two to three months before your retirement date or loss of benefits eligibility date, begin the process to enroll in Medicare Part B & D - refer to "How to Enroll in Medicare"
  • Enroll in Part D only if your Medicare Supplemental/Advantage plan does not include Part D coverage.   
  • You and/or your Medicare eligible spouse will qualify for a “Special Enrollment Period” to add Medicare Part B & D coverage if you have been covered under an employer group plan (e.g., PEBB).
  • Need to have your Medicare and Medicare Supplemental/Advantage plan effective when your active employee coverage terminates.
  • The “Special Enrollment Period” is only available if you ARE NOT in your initial Medicare enrollment period (3 months before your 65th birthday, the month you turn 65, and 3 months after the month you turn 65).

 

Additional Medicare Resources:  Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) -  SHIBA – Medicare Starts at 65