How does employer or union group coverage affect Part B enrollment timing?

How does employer or union group coverage affect Part B enrollment timing?

• A. You must enroll in Part B immediately regardless of employer coverage to avoid penalty.
• B. Employer coverage always disqualifies you from Part B.
• C. If you’re still working and have eligible employer coverage, you may delay Part B without penalty; Medicare may be secondary.
• D. You can delay Part B without penalty only if you are over 75.

Answer: (C)

When you’re still working and have credible employer or union group coverage, you can delay enrolling in Part B without paying a late enrollment penalty because that group plan acts as your primary coverage. Medicare will coordinate with that coverage and often pays secondary to the employer plan, so you don’t need Part B right away. If and when your employment ends or your group coverage ends, you get a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty, typically within eight months after the coverage ends. This timing is designed to let you avoid gaps in coverage while still working. There’s no age cutoff for delaying Part B; the key factor is your current employment status and whether you have credible group coverage. This explains why the best choice says you may delay Part B without penalty while you’re still working with eligible employer coverage, and that Medicare may be secondary to that coverage.

When you’re still working and have credible employer or union group coverage, you can delay enrolling in Part B without paying a late enrollment penalty because that group plan acts as your primary coverage. Medicare will coordinate with that coverage and often pays secondary to the employer plan, so you don’t need Part B right away.

If and when your employment ends or your group coverage ends, you get a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty, typically within eight months after the coverage ends. This timing is designed to let you avoid gaps in coverage while still working. There’s no age cutoff for delaying Part B; the key factor is your current employment status and whether you have credible group coverage.

This explains why the best choice says you may delay Part B without penalty while you’re still working with eligible employer coverage, and that Medicare may be secondary to that coverage.