Can I stay on my Affordable Care Act marketplace plan instead of Medicare?

Once you turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare, the Affordable Care Act marketplace changes the rules on you. At that point, you no longer qualify for the premium tax credits that make marketplace plans affordable for most people. Without those credits, the premiums on a marketplace plan can be significantly higher than what you'd pay for Medicare.Beyond cost, there's a timing issue. If you delay signing up for Medicare Part B and then want to enroll later, you may face a late enrollment penalty that adds to your Part B premium permanently. That penalty grows the longer you wait, so the decision to skip Medicare isn't consequence-free.There are narrow situations where keeping a marketplace plan temporarily makes sense, like if you're still working and waiting to coordinate with employer coverage, but simply preferring your current marketplace plan isn't a strong enough reason to skip Medicare. The math almost never works out in your favor.If you like your current doctors and you're worried about changing coverage, that's worth talking through. Some people find Medicare covers their needs at a lower total cost once premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs are compared side by side.

Related Medicare Resources

• Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
• Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
• Medicare Supplement Plan G
• Compare Medicare Plans