Other Coverage
Employer Coverage
Quick answer
Employer coverage is a group health plan from your (or your spouse's) current job. If the employer has 20+ employees, you can usually delay Part B without penalty while you're still working.
Plain-English definition
Which plan pays first depends on employer size and your situation. Losing employer coverage opens a SEP for Part B and Part D.
Why it matters
Understanding the rules keeps you out of the LEP and prevents coverage gaps.
A simple example
You keep working at 66 with employer coverage from a large employer. You delay Part B without penalty.
Common mistakes & misconceptions
Related terms
COBRA
COBRA lets you temporarily continue employer coverage after leaving a job. COBRA is not considered active employer coverage for Medicare, so it does not delay your Part B enrollment window.
Creditable Coverage
Creditable coverage is drug coverage — usually from an employer, union, VA, or TRICARE — that Medicare considers at least as good as Part D. Having it lets you delay Part D without a penalty.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a window outside the standard windows when you can join, switch, or drop a plan. SEPs are triggered by qualifying life events like moving, losing employer coverage, or becoming eligible for Medicaid.
SEP for Losing Employer Coverage
Losing employer or union group health coverage triggers a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Part B and to join Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan — typically 8 months for Part B and 63 days for Part D.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take Part A if I'm still working?+
Usually yes — it's premium-free — unless you contribute to an HSA.
Sources & references
📚 Where this information comes from
- Medicare.gov — official U.S. government site for people with Medicare ↗Primary source for benefits, enrollment periods, and plan comparison.
- CMS.gov — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ↗Federal rulemaking, program updates, and official guidance.
- Social Security Administration — Medicare enrollment & premiums ↗Enrollment, premium withholding, and IRMAA determinations.
When you're ready, compare plans on your own terms
See Medicare Advantage plans from the insurance companies we represent, or walk the course with a licensed agent whenever you'd like a second set of eyes.
We help compare Medicare Advantage plans from the insurance companies we represent, and we don't offer every plan available in your area.
Medicare Caddies is an independent insurance agency. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We help compare Medicare Advantage plans from the insurance companies we represent, and we don't offer every plan available in your area.