Employment and Medicare

If you are approaching your 65th birthday, you are an American citizen AND

• you receive benefits under the Social Security or Railroad Retirement system, OR
• you could receive benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement system but have not filed for them, OR
• you or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment,

You can get premium-free Medicare Part A benefits. You will also be given the opportunity to enroll in Medicare Part B for a monthly premium.

2021 amount: $148.50 for new Medicare beneficiaries in 2021 ($170.10 in 2022).

If you are working and plan on continuing to work after your 65th birthday, you still may need to contact the Social Security Administration to let them know your intentions. You may still want to enroll in premium-free Part A. If you are covered by a group health plan when you are first able to get Medicare, you may be able to delay enrollment in Part B or premium Part A without premium surcharge and without waiting for a general enrollment period. The group plan must be based on current employment. It cannot be a plan for retired people. The Special Enrollment Period will apply. Contact your local Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.

Special Enrollment Period

You can sign up for Part B or premium Part A at any time while you are covered under a group health plan if:

• you are 65 or over and your group health coverage is based on your own or your spouse's employment, OR
• you are disabled and your group health coverage is based on your own or a family member's current employment.

ALSO, If you have chosen to delay enrolling in Part B or premium Part A because you don't need Medicare coverage while you are covered under a group health plan, you may enroll during an eight-month period.

• If you are 65 or over, your eight-month period begins when you or your spouse's current employment ends or your coverage under the group health plan ends, whichever comes first.
• If you are disabled, your eight-month period begins when the current employment ends; the plan is no longer classifiable as a large group health plan (one that covers 100 or more employees); or when the plan coverage is terminated, whichever comes first.

Contact the local Social Security Administration office as soon as employment ends, or the plan coverage ends or changes, to be sure that you get the information you need about enrolling in Part B. NOTE: Special enrollment period rules do not apply to you if you stop working or lose group health plan coverage during your initial enrollment period.

If you are in an employer group plan and you are in one of the three groups of people discussed below, Medicare will be your secondary payer. If you are age 65 or over AND:

• You are covered under a group health plan because of your current employment or your spouse's current employment (your spouse can be any age) AND
• The employer has 20 or more employees.

Medicare is also the secondary payer if you or your spouse are self-employed and covered by a group health plan of a firm that has 20 or more employees. See "Special Enrollment Period" and contact your local Social Security Administration office.

Group health plans must not discriminate against aged workers and spouses in the employee health benefits they offer. That is, group health plans must offer you the same health benefits under the same conditions that they offer to younger workers and spouses.

Nationwide toll-free help line: 800-MEDICARE or 800-633-4227

Telecommunications device for the deaf : TTY 877-486-2048

You may call your local SHICK Coordinator, the State SHICK Hotline 800-860-5260 or the Kansas Insurance Department 800-432-2484 if you have questions regarding Employment and Medicare or other Medicare issues.