How do I line up my Medicare start date with my retirement date?

Getting this timing right matters more than most people realize, so it is worth thinking through carefully.Medicare eligibility starts at 65. But if you are still working and covered by a group health plan through your employer, you may be able to delay Medicare without any penalty. The key word is 'may.' The rules depend on how many employees your company has, so check with your HR department or a Medicare specialist before assuming you can wait.When you do decide to retire, here is the sequence that usually works best. Medicare coverage can start on the first day of the month you turn 65, or you can request a future start date during your 8-month Special Enrollment Period, which begins when your employer coverage ends or your employment ends, whichever comes first.If you retire and lose your employer coverage mid-month, you typically want Medicare to start the first of that same month or the following month to avoid being uninsured even briefly. Hospital bills can add up fast without coverage.One timing trap people fall into: COBRA. COBRA lets you keep your old employer's insurance temporarily after you leave a job, but it does not count as the kind of active employer coverage that lets you delay Medicare penalty-free. If you rely on COBRA and miss your Medicare window, you could face a late enrollment penalty.Talk with a licensed agent or an ADRC counselor at least three months before your planned retirement date. That gives you time to sort out the paperwork without scrambling.

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