A lot of times, people think that once they retire then they are eligible to start receiving Medicare benefits. But, that is not necessarily true. If you retire early there will be some consequences with your healthcare. Specifically, you will have to pay for it out of pocket.
Medicare Age
You can begin applying for Medicare coverage 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and 3 months after. For example, if you turn 65 in January, you can enroll anytime from October through April. However, you can not sign up for Medicare any earlier than that.
If You Retire Early
Retiring before you turn 65 will leave you without health insurance. You are not able to acquire or sign up for Medicare, which will leave you looking for private health insurance. You will have to pay for it our of pocket until you are eligible for Medicare. Social security will kick in three years before Medicare eligibility. This means you can start receiving benefits at the age of 62, but it comes with some repercussion. There will be reduction in payments since you have not reached retirement age.
If You Retire Later
Unlike retiring early, if you retire later in the workforce, you will be able to get Medicare. It is always best to look into retirement at the age of 65 or later. You are eligible for a special enrollment period when you are still on a group health insurance plan provided by your employer. After you turn 65 or later and you decide to retire, you will be able to enroll into Medicare during the special enrollment period. You must enroll no later than 8 months after the group health plan or employment ends.
Penalties
It is important to know that when you turn 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare. If you do not enroll when you’re first ineligible, then you may face penalties. For Part A, you can end up paying 10% more on monthly premiums for twice as long as you waited to sign up. For example, if you delayed signing up by one year, then you will pay the penalty for 2 years. As for Part B, you will have a 10% penalty for each full 12-month period you could have enrolled but did not. For example, if you waited 3 years to enroll, then you will have to pay an additional 30% on your monthly premium.
If you have any questions while retiring or need any clarification, EZ.Insure can help. We provide you with your own trained agent within your region that can answer any questions. For a quote, you can enter your zip code in the bar above, or contact an agent by emailing re[email protected], or calling 855-220-1144. Our main mission is to inform you of plans and quotes, and help you sign up for free without hassle or jumping around from agent to agent. We make the process as easy as possible for you.
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