Medicare 2026

Medicare and Your Job in Concord: When to Enroll

CONCORD, Calif. — Turning 65 used to mean retirement. Today, plenty of people in Concord are still clocking in — at the hospital, the school district, a small business downtown, or a job in the East Bay. If that's you, one question keeps coming up: do I have to sign up for Medicare right now, or can I stay on my job's health plan?

Still Working at 65 in Concord? Here's How Medicare Fits In

The short answer: it depends on the size of your employer, the kind of coverage you have, and a few deadlines you don't want to miss. Here's how to think it through.

Start With the Size of Your Employer

The rules hinge on how many people work where you (or your spouse) work.

• 20 or more employees: Your job's group health plan usually pays first, and Medicare pays second. Many people in this situation delay Part B without a penalty, as long as their employer coverage counts as "current" active coverage.
• Fewer than 20 employees: Medicare typically pays first. If you don't enroll in Part A and Part B when you're first eligible, your employer plan may not cover much. In this case, most people should enroll on time.

If you're not sure which category your employer falls into, ask your HR or benefits office in writing. It's a fair question, and they hear it often.

Part A Is Usually an Easy Yes

Most people qualify for premium-free Part A (hospital coverage) because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If that's you, enrolling in Part A at 65 usually makes sense even if you keep your job's insurance.

One important exception: if you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you cannot keep adding to it once you enroll in any part of Medicare. If your HSA matters to you, talk to your benefits team before you sign up.

Part B Is Where the Real Decision Lives

Part B (doctor and outpatient care) carries a monthly premium, so many working people wonder whether to delay it.

You can delay Part B without a late penalty if you have "creditable" employer coverage based on current work — yours or your spouse's. COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as current employer coverage for this rule. That trips people up every year.

When your job coverage ends, you get an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty. Don't wait past that window. If you do, you could face a lifetime premium surcharge and a gap in coverage.

Don't Forget Part D (Prescription Drugs)

Even if your medical coverage at work is solid, check whether the drug coverage is "creditable" — meaning at least as good as a standard Medicare Part D plan. Your employer is required to send you a notice each year telling you this. Keep it.

If your drug coverage isn't creditable and you go more than 63 days without Part D, you can be charged a late enrollment penalty when you finally join.

A few 2026 numbers worth knowing, per Medicare.gov:

• Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 for the year.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" is gone — Part D now has three simpler phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments if you'd like.
• Higher-income enrollees (above $109,000 single, based on 2026 IRMAA thresholds) pay extra for Part B and Part D.

What About Medicare Advantage While You're Still Working?

Some Concord workers keep employer coverage as their main insurance and add Original Medicare on top. Others eventually shift to Medicare Advantage or a Medigap plan once they retire.

Concord sits in Contra Costa County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered by multiple carriers. Availability is set at the county level, not the city level, so anyone with a Concord ZIP code shops from the same list as their neighbors across the county.

Two dates to circle:

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance to change it or return to Original Medicare.

A Quick Decision Checklist

Before you decide, gather these:

1. A written note from HR about whether your employer coverage is "current employer coverage" and whether the drug portion is creditable. 2. Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period dates (the seven-month window around your 65th birthday). 3. A list of your regular doctors and prescriptions. 4. Whether you or your spouse contribute to an HSA.

With those in hand, you can make a calm, informed call — not a rushed one.