If you are about to enroll in Medicare around your 65th birthday but plan on continuing to work, the following information is just for you. For those taking Social Security after their 65th birthday they are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital) at 65. Those that elect Social Security before turning 65 are automatically enrolled in Medicare A and B (hospital/doctor.)
For those turning 65 and not electing to claim Social Security benefits at 65 must contact CMS (Medicare) and enroll in Part A and B during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP.) The IEP is seven month’s long… three months prior to 65, the birthday month, and three months after.
As of 01/01/2023 if you enroll in Medicare in one of the last three months of the IEP your Medicare Part A coverage will begin the first of the month of your birthday, in other words retroactive. Part B coverage will begin the first of the following month. For those born on the first of the month Medicare coverages begins on the first day of the previous month.
To sum up, if you enroll in Medicare during the 3 months leading up to your birthday Medicare coverage will begin on the 1st of the birthday month. If enrolling during the birthday month Medicare Part A begins the1st of the birthday month, Part B the 1st of the following month. If you enroll in Medicare in one of the 3 months after your birthday month Medicare Part A coverage is retroactive to the 1st of your birthday month, Part B the 1st of the following month.