No. You don’t have to sign up for Medicare when you are 65. You can sign up for Part A and Part B at any time. You may want to sign up for Medicare when you are first eligible. This is when you first turn 65 and are suitable for Social Security benefits. When you do, signing up for Medicare will give you the most freedom to choose your health plan. You can keep your current health plan or enroll in a plan offered by Medicare. When you sign up for Medicare, you can also sign up for Part D drug coverage at the same time. If you have original Medicare and you want to keep it, you don’t have to sign up for Part D drug coverage. If you are already on disability and have Medicare, you don’t have to sign up for Part D drug coverage unless you want to. You should do it when you first become eligible if you want to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B. Otherwise, if you enroll in Medicare later, you will have a seven-month wait before your coverage begins. Kevin Leinum – your local Medicare Expert – can help you understand the many parts of Medicare and determine what the right fit is for you. Give me a call to discuss the options available to you.
