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Geisinger becomes the first member of Risant Health

Delaying retirement? Here’s what you need to know about Medicare enrollment.

You may still need to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B even if you continue working past age 65, because this is when Medicare eligibility begins. Once you do retire, you’ll have 8 months (known as a Special Enrollment Period) from when you leave your job or the last day that your Employer Group Coverage ends (whichever comes first) to sign up and avoid a late enrollment penalty fee.

Signing up for Medicare Part A:

  • If you continue to work past Medicare eligibility age 65, you can still sign up for Part A as soon as your Initial Enrollment Period begins. (See "Turning 65 and retiring" above for when your Initial Enrollment Period is.) 

  • If you paid Medicare taxes for a certain amount of time, you may qualify for Part A with no premium. 

Signing up for Medicare Part B:

  • The size of your employer and the health coverage your employer provides may impact when you are eligible to sign up for Medicare Part B.

  • If you or your spouse keep working for an employer with 20 or more employees and have group health coverage, you may be able to delay signing up for Medicare Part B without incurring a late penalty. Ask your benefits manager whether you have group health plan coverage (as defined by the IRS). If so, you don’t need to enroll in Part B, since your employer's plan will remain your primary coverage. When you do eventually retire or leave work, you'll be able to sign up for Part B, without incurring a late penalty, during an 8-month Special Enrollment Period. (See exceptions to eligibility and enrollment below.)

  • If you keep working for an employer with less than 20 employees or your company provides insurance that does not qualify as a group health plan, you should sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B when you first become eligible for Medicare. This will become your primary insurer. If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B at this time, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you keep Part B coverage once you do enroll.

Ready to Shop?

Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and HMO D-SNP plans are offered by Geisinger Health Plan/Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company, health plans with a Medicare contract. Continued enrollment in Geisinger Gold depends on annual contract renewal.

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