Does my company insurance work with Medicare?

Dear Toni, I am 67 and have group health insurance through my current employer, with a high deductible. My question is, should I have also enrolled in Medicare, even though I am still working? If so, who pays my claims first? I have talked with friends, my company’s HR department, their insurance agent and get answers from “I don’t know” to “I’m not sure but I think ..

. .” I cannot get a straight answer.

I have just started following your Medicare column in our local paper and am finding you are answering questions about Medicare problems I never knew I could have. Thank you! – Rhonda from Dallas Hello, Rhonda, Most answers about enrolling in Medicare can be found in the Medicare & You Handbook. Some people do not take Part B during their Initial Enrollment Period when turning 65 because they or their spouses are still working and have insurance from a current employer.

Let’s start by discussing enrollment in Medicare Part B when working full-time with an employer group health plan. Page 19 of the 2024 Handbook discusses “Should I Get Part B” with employer or union coverage and states: “If you or your spouse ..

. are still working and you have health coverage through that employer or union, go to page 21 to find out how your coverage works with Medicare. You can also contact the employer or union benefits administrator for information.

This includes federal or state employment and active-duty military service. It might be to your advantage to delay Part.