Loading ...I almost passed on it when turning 65 last summer. Did a lot of futuristic ” just incase I lived that long currently at that time not needing care” thinking and research. Medicare part A is free to those who’ve worked enough but the Part B was something else, Then you need a supplement to go with it. The other challenge will be finding a Doctor who will accept Medicare. You might ask your doctor if you’ll be dropped once you get medicare and find one because they get filled up fast. Multi years ago I decided to do third party insurance adjusting and learned a few things. Went back to nursing though because I liked it better. First keep all your records incase you need them and dates of any visits. They could come in handy but hopefully not. Second I found medicare was not paying well and since then instead of getting better it was getting worse. This is what led to having hardships of doctors accepting it. Politicians should be forced to take it.
Once you do sign up since you are going to do it past your eligibility date you will be fined and they’ll take it directly out of your SS for part B once you start to draw and sign up.
Here’s some info.
Cons of delaying Medicare Part B enrollment
Going without Medicare Part B and not having other coverage might leave you paying high out-of-pocket costs for doctors’ visits, preventive care, and medical services. Health care needs tend to increase as people get older, and any potential savings from delaying enrollment in Part B could be offset if you get sick and don’t have medical coverage. If you wait to enroll and then contract an illness, you may not be able to sign up for Medicare Part B until the next General Enrollment Period. In the meantime, you may have to pay for all medical costs out-of-pocket.
Those who do not sign up for Medicare Part B when they’re first eligible and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period may be subject to a late enrollment penalty. This could mean paying a 10% higher monthly premium for every 12-month period that you were eligible for Part B but didn’t enroll. You will have to pay this higher Part B premium for as long as you have Medicare.
When calculating your late enrollment penalty, you’re considered “first eligible” for Medicare Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which typically occurs three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months later. If you qualify for Medicare because you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, your IEP takes place three months before your 25th month of receiving disability benefits. Your Initial Enrollment Period works differently if you qualify because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or end-stage renal disease; visit Medicare.gov for more information.
You won’t owe a late enrollment penalty if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, which allows you to enroll in Medicare Part B after your IEP has passed, outside of regular enrollment periods. You can delay Medicare Part B and enroll through an SEP if you have health coverage based on current employment (either through your employer or your spouse’s employer).
However, it is important to note that not all coverage qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. The following types of coverage do not count as creditable coverage based on current employment and would not exempt you from paying the Part B penalty if you delay enrollment:
COBRA
Retiree benefits
TRICARE (unless you, your spouse, or dependent child are an active-duty member)*
Veterans’ benefits
*If you are Medicare-eligible, you must be enrolled in Part B to continue receiving TRICARE benefits.
Even if you’re currently covered under an employer plan, you may decide that you want additional benefits through Part B, depending on how comprehensive your coverage is and how much your employer contributes to the cost of your plan. You may want to talk to your employer’s health benefits administrator or an eHealth licensed insurance agent to see how Medicare would work with your current coverage and what the pros and cons of delaying Medicare Part B enrollment might be for you.
If you’re qualified for Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, then you also have several Medicare plan options available. You may wish to add a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan to your Part A and Part B coverage, or maybe you’d like to join a private Medicare Advantage plan to have all your Medicare benefits handled under one policy.
More
https://medicare.com/original-medicare/pros-and-cons-of-delaying-medicare-part-b-enrollment/