Medicare 2026
Still on the Job in Portage? Your 8-Month Medicare Clock
Still on the Job in Portage? Your 8-Month Medicare Clock — plain-language Medicare information for Portage, Indiana.
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Key takeaways
- If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually becomes your primary coverage at 65 — enrolling on time matters.
- If your employer has 20 or more employees, you can often delay Part B without penalty and use a Special Enrollment Period later.
- After job-based coverage ends, you have 8 months to sign up for Part B without a late penalty.
- HSA contributions must stop once you enroll in any part of Medicare, including Part A.
PORTAGE, Ind. — If you're approaching 65 and still clocking in at a job that offers health insurance, you're facing one of the trickiest decisions in Medicare: sign up now, or wait? The answer depends on the size of your employer, the type of coverage you have, and a handful of deadlines that can quietly turn into lifelong penalties if you miss them.
Here's what Portage-area workers need to know before their birthday month arrives.
The size of your employer changes everything
The single most important question is how many people work at your (or your spouse's) employer. Medicare treats large and small employers very differently.
If the company has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare is generally the primary payer once you turn 65. That means your job-based plan expects Medicare to pay first, and if you don't enroll, you could be left with big bills. In this case, most people should sign up for Part A and Part B during their Initial Enrollment Period — the seven-month window around their 65th birthday.
If the company has 20 or more employees, your employer plan usually stays primary. You can often delay Part B without a late penalty and pick it up later through a Special Enrollment Period when you leave the job or lose the coverage.
Part A is usually a smart yes
Most people qualify for premium-free Part A because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If that's you, enrolling in Part A at 65 is often a straightforward decision — it can help cover hospital costs your job plan doesn't.
One big exception: if you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you must stop those contributions the month your Medicare coverage begins. Enrolling in Part A — even by itself — ends your HSA eligibility. Some workers choose to delay Part A for that reason.
The 8-month rule after your job ends
When you (or your spouse) stop working, or your employer coverage ends, the clock starts. You get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without a late penalty. This window begins the month after employment ends or the month after the group coverage ends — whichever comes first.
Miss it, and you could face a lifetime Part B late enrollment penalty of 10% for every 12 months you were eligible but didn't sign up. That penalty stays with you for as long as you have Part B.
Important note: COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as active employer coverage for Medicare purposes. If you leave your job and stay on COBRA, the 8-month window still starts when your job ends — not when COBRA ends.
What about Part D and prescription drugs?
If your employer plan includes drug coverage that Medicare considers "creditable" (as good as or better than Part D), you can delay signing up for a Part D plan without a penalty. Your employer or plan administrator should send you a notice each year confirming whether the drug coverage is creditable — keep those letters.
Part D includes a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. The maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments.
Portage-area plan availability
Portage is in Porter County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered each year. When you're ready to compare options — whether now or after you retire — the plan finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code to see what's available in your area. Plan choices refresh every year during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7.
A quick timeline to keep on your fridge
- 3 months before 65: Your Initial Enrollment Period opens. Decide about Part A, Part B, and whether your drug coverage is creditable.
- Month of your 65th birthday: If you're delaying Part B, confirm in writing that your employer coverage qualifies.
- When you leave your job: Your 8-month Special Enrollment Period for Part B begins.
- Each fall: The Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) is your yearly chance to change Part D or Medicare Advantage coverage.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Porter County
(MA penetration in Porter County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sign up for Medicare at 65 if I'm still working?
Will I get a late penalty if I delay Part B while still working?
Can I keep contributing to my HSA after I enroll in Medicare?
Where can I get free, unbiased help in Indiana?
- CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Portage
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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.