Working past 65 · Greenville & Greer, SC
Not always. If you have health coverage through your own or your spouse’s current job, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty and sign up within 8 months after the job or coverage ends. If the employer has fewer than 20 employees, or your coverage is COBRA, retiree or individual insurance, you usually need Part B at 65.
| Your situation at 65 | What usually applies |
|---|---|
| Job coverage, employer with 20 or more employees | Usually can delay Part B. The job plan pays first. Sign up within 8 months after the job or the coverage ends, whichever comes first. |
| Job coverage, employer with fewer than 20 employees | Usually need Part B at 65. Medicare generally pays first, and the job plan may not pay for care Medicare would have covered. Ask the employer. |
| Coverage through your spouse’s current job | Same rules as your own job, based on your spouse’s employer size. |
| COBRA | Sign up at 65. COBRA doesn’t count as current job coverage and doesn’t extend your sign-up time. |
| Retiree coverage | Sign up at 65. Retiree plans usually pay after Medicare, or not at all if you don’t have Parts A and B. |
| Self-employed, Marketplace or other individual coverage | Sign up at 65 to avoid the Part B penalty, unless your plan is employer group coverage as the IRS defines it. |
Whatever your situation, ask your employer’s benefits office in writing whether you need Parts A and B at 65. If you don’t sign up and the job plan expects Medicare to pay first, it might not cover your care.
Sources: Medicare.gov, Working past 65; Medicare.gov, Avoid late enrollment penalties; Medicare.gov, When does Medicare coverage start?. Updated October 2026.
Poston Health & Medicare Solutions is a locally owned, independent agency at 4115 E North St in Greenville. Our Medicare help is free to you, in person or by phone. We’ll look at your job coverage, your spouse’s and your HSA, and map out when to sign up. Turning 65 soon? See our Turning 65 Medicare checklist. Own a small business? See our group health plan page.
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Not always. If you have coverage through your own or your spouse’s current job at an employer with 20 or more employees, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty. With a smaller employer, COBRA, retiree or individual coverage, you usually need Part B at 65.
Part A is premium-free for most people, so many sign up at 65 even while working. The main exception is if you or your employer contribute to an HSA, since you can’t add to an HSA once you have Part A.
8 months after your job or your job coverage ends, whichever comes first. COBRA doesn’t extend that time, so don’t wait for COBRA to end.
Usually an extra 10% on your Part B premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn’t, for as long as you have Part B. You don’t pay it if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on current job coverage.
Yes. Poston Health (licensed agent), 4115 E North St, Greenville, can review your job coverage with you and help you time Medicare, free of charge. Call (864) 526-7702.
Free, no-obligation Medicare help from Poston Health (licensed agent) in Greenville.
