Q & A
I don’t want to file for Social Security when I’m 65…what happens with my Medicare?
Complete Question: As far as I know, I’m entitled to Medicare because I’m entitled to Social Security. I’ve always been told they go hand-in-hand – if you get Social Security, you get Medicare. I’ll be 65 in a few months and I want my Medicare to start. However, I’m currently working part-time and living off of savings and I would like to delay filing for Social Security benefits. Do I have to file for Social Security just to get my Medicare to kick in? If not, how do I handle this situation?
Answer: You are right that if you are entitled to Social Security benefits because you have paid enough taxes to be eligible, then you are also eligible for Medicare. More specifically, this means you are entitled to “premium-free” Part A (Part A is hospitalization coverage). Other people who are 65 and do not meet the eligibility criteria can also get Part A, but they have to pay a monthly premium. Regardless of Social Security eligibility, everybody has to pay a premium for Part B (office visits) and Part D (prescription drug coverage). Note that this is the general rule for Medicare and may not necessarily apply to low-income individuals. From what you said, it sounds like you are eligible for premium-free Part A.
As for enrolling in Medicare coverage, do not worry – you do NOT have to start your Social Security benefits in order to start Medicare. In fact, it is important that you start Medicare at the age of 65 regardless of what you are doing with your Social Security so as to avoid late enrollment penalties (unless you have other coverage).
Since you will not be getting your Social Security benefits, you will need to sign up for Medicare. You will have a 7-month initial enrollment period that begins 3 months before your birthday. In other words, if your 65th birthday is on May 10, 2015, your initial enrollment period will be between February 1, 2015 to August 31, 2015. However, the longer you wait after May 1st, the later your actual benefits will start, which could cause a late enrollment penalty and/or a gap in coverage. So even though Medicare gives you 7 months to enroll, you really should enroll during the first 3 months (from February 1st through April 30th).
Just in case you change your mind about your Social Security benefits: If you are getting Social Security benefits before your 65th birthday, you will be automatically enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. In this case, Medicare will send you your insurance card before your birthday. As long as these are the benefits you want, you do not have to do anything. Just remember that your Part B premium will be deducted from your Social Security payment unless you specifically request another method of payment.