I'm still working at age 65 and have my employer's group health coverage. Do I need to enroll in Medicare?

You may not need to enroll in Medicare if your employer has 20 or more employees (or is part of a multi-employer group plan). In this case, they are required to provide the same coverage you currently have and serve as your primary health insurance provider.

If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, you will need to enroll in Original Medicare. Your employer may either drop you from their coverage or offer "coordinated" coverage. With coordinated coverage, Medicare would become your primary provider, and your employer’s insurance would be secondary. This is an important distinction because it may help you avoid enrolling in a Medicare supplemental plan.

It’s a good idea to contact your HR representative early to understand your options, and then consult with a licensed health insurance agent to determine whether supplemental coverage is necessary.

One important note: If you choose to delay enrollment in Original Medicare, you must also maintain "creditable" prescription drug coverage, either through your employer or on your own. "Creditable" coverage means the prescription plan is comparable to a Medicare Part D prescription plan. If you don’t have creditable coverage, CMS will impose a penalty when you enroll in a Part D plan later, which will apply for as long as you have that coverage.