Age 64 – Research & Enroll

As you get closer to age 65, you'll want to narrow down your potential Medicare options, so you can find the right plan for you. While you're eligible for benefits when you turn 65, you can actually begin enrolling in Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. So now is the perfect time to finalize your choice and pick the Medicare plan that fits your life.

Enrolling in a Florida Blue Medicare plan means you'll get the full support of a community of health care experts. We can help you decide when to enroll and make sure you get the right Medicare coverage for you.

Picking the Right Plan
Eligibility and Enrollment
Why Choose Blue

Florida Blue Medicare Plans to Consider

Senior woman smiling on beach

Working Past 65 – You Have Options

Senior couple walking on the beach

Continuing to work past 65 doesn’t necessarily mean you should delay your Medicare enrollment. If you have health insurance with an employer, a Medicare plan could work with your coverage and even provide coverage for services that your employer’s plan doesn’t cover.

Even if you’re still working, you may want to consider enrolling in Medicare Part A. For most people, Part A does not charge a Premium. You’ll want to make sure that your existing coverage won’t change if you enroll in Part A. If you are required to pay a premium for Part A and don’t sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period, your monthly premium may increase by 10%. This could mean you will have a higher premium for twice the amount of time you didn’t sign up for Part A. If you were eligible for Part A for 2 years but didn’t sign up, you’ll have to pay the higher premium for 4 years.

Your options for Medicare Part B enrollment vary depending on the size of your employer. Generally, if your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare will be your primary insurance. So, you may need to enroll in Medicare Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period. But if your employer has 20 or more employees, your employer’s group health plan will be your primary insurer. This means you may have more options, including delaying enrollment or having both your employer coverage and Medicare.

Check with your benefits administrator to see if you should consider signing up for Parts A and B in addition to the coverage you get today.

Important Facts About Working Past 65 and Medicare

  • You can enroll in Medicare and still work full-time, which means you can have employer health coverage and Medicare at the same time. One will act as your primary insurance and the other as secondary. 

  • Signing up for Medicare, even if it’s just Part A, could keep you from being able to make contributions to a health savings account (HSA) tied to a high-deductible health plan through your employer.

  • When you lose coverage, you will have a Special Enrollment Period for Medicare that lasts 8 months. You may enroll in Parts A and/or B during this entire period but can only enroll in Parts C and/or D during the first two months.

  • If you become eligible for COBRA after you enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, you have the option to have COBRA, in addition to Medicare, as your primary coverage.

  • You can enroll in Medicare and still work full-time, which means you can have employer health coverage and Medicare at the same time. One will act as your primary insurance and the other as secondary. 

  • Signing up for Medicare, even if it’s just Part A, could keep you from being able to make contributions to a health savings account (HSA) tied to a high-deductible health plan through your employer.

  • When you lose coverage, you will have a Special Enrollment Period for Medicare that lasts 8 months. You may enroll in Parts A and/or B during this entire period but can only enroll in Parts C and/or D during the first two months.

  • If you become eligible for COBRA after you enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, you have the option to have COBRA, in addition to Medicare, as your primary coverage.

We're always happy to help

Just a Phone Call Away

Reach out to us for help or for any questions you have about your Medicare insurance plan needs. Call us at: 

1-888-902-5708 TTY 1-800-955-8770

Friendly Agents

Let one of our many bilingual agents guide you through your Medicare options.

Find an Agent

Florida Blue Centers

Speak with an agent about plans in person, talk with a nurse, or learn about healthy living.

Find a Center