Must I Take Medicare at 65 if I’m Still Working? - Jacksonville Progress
Age 65 is, of course, the standard age at which eligible Americans can enroll in Medicare, our national healthcare system. Medicare consists of two main parts – Part A which is inpatient hospitalization coverage, and Part B which is coverage for outpatient medical services such as doctors, tests, etc. For those eligible for Social Security (or who have a spouse who is eligible), Medicare Part A is free. But there is always a premium associated with Medicare Part B – $164.90 per month is the standard 2023 premium.
These days, and for various reasons, many (perhaps most) who turn 65 aren’t yet ready to stop working and choose instead to continue working well past Medicare’s standard age 65 enrollment date. But many also ask, “why pay the Part B premium if I also have healthcare coverage from my employer (or my spouse’s employer)?” And the answer to that is – you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part B at age 65 and pay that Part B premium if you have “creditable” employer coverage, as is fully explained in this Jacksonville Progress article by Medicare expert Toni King.