I will be 65 in October and am working full time. My husband retired at the end of December 2017 and will be 66 in April 2019. He wants to hold off on Social Security until age 66 possibly longer. He transitioned to my work health insurance prior to ending his work health insurance in December. My health insurance covers over 25,000 employees.
We have purchased the Maximize my Social Security program/calculator and enjoy plugging in the numbers. We also purchased Get What's yours: The Revised Secrets to Maxing out your Social Security and Get What's yours for Medicare.
My three Questions, just to be sure: 1. Since he is on my Health Insurance for 25,000 employees is it correct that he can hold off on Medicare until he signs up for Social Security?
2. Does he have to sign up for Medicare when he signs up for Social Security if he is still on my Insurance? can it be only the free Medicare?
3. Waiting and or not choosing the (not free) Medicare or the prescription Medicare would there be penalties as long as he is on my work health insurance?
Thanks :)

Hi,

Yes, it sounds like your husband could delay taking Medicare without any future premium penalties for late enrollment as long as he continues to be covered under your employer's group health plan (EGHP) where you are active employee.

If your husband applies for Social Security benefits and he is at least age 65 he is only required to take premium free Part A (inpatient hospital) of Medicare. Part A enrollment would be mandatory in that case, but he could defer enrolling in the other optional parts of Medicare. He could then enroll in the other parts of Medicare without any late enrollment penalties when you retire and he loses EGHP coverage.

Part A enrollment isn't required as long as your husband doesn't file for Social Security benefits. And, his Part A coverage would still be premium free regardless of how long he waits to enroll.

Best, Jerry