Dear Larry
I am 67 and past FRA. I meet all the criteria for Divorced Spousal benefits and have started the SSI paperwork. I am still working and do not need Medicare as I am covered by my employer. Am I forced to sign up for Medicare when I submit the claim for divorced spousal benefits? I can not find the answer anywhere.

Thanks for considering

Hi,

The only part of Medicare that you'll be forced to file for if you apply for benefits is Part A. Part A coverage is free for people who qualify for monthly Social Security benefits, so it won't cost you anything. The only potential problem is that IRS's rules don't permit people to contribute to an HSA if they have Medicare coverage, so some people have issues with that.

Best, Jerry