Medicare 2026

Still working at 65 in Beatrice? How Medicare and job coverage fit together

BEATRICE, Neb. — Turning 65 used to mean retirement. Today, plenty of workers in Gage County are still clocking in — at the hospital, the school district, a family farm, or a small shop on Court Street — and wondering what to do about Medicare. The good news: you often have choices. The tricky part: the right choice depends on how big your employer is, what your current coverage looks like, and whether you take any prescriptions.

Here is a plain-language guide to how Medicare coordinates with employer coverage when you keep working past 65.

The first question: how big is your employer?

The size of your employer decides who pays first — and that decision shapes whether you even need Medicare right now.

• 20 or more employees: Your group health plan is the "primary" payer. Medicare is secondary. Many people in this situation keep their job coverage and delay Part B until they retire.
• Fewer than 20 employees: Medicare usually becomes the primary payer at 65. If you skip Medicare here, your employer plan may pay very little — or nothing — for care Medicare would have covered. Ask your HR office in writing how the plan works with Medicare.

Beatrice is in Gage County, and rules like these are set at the federal level, so they apply the same whether you work in town or commute to Lincoln.

Part A is usually an easy call

Most people qualify for premium-free Part A (hospital insurance) at 65 because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Since it costs nothing, many workers sign up for Part A even while keeping their job plan.

One important exception: if you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you cannot keep adding money to it once any part of Medicare — including Part A — starts. If your HSA matters to you, talk with your benefits office before enrolling.

Part B is where the decision really lives

Part B (doctor and outpatient care) has a monthly premium, so this is the piece most workers weigh carefully.

You can generally delay Part B without a late penalty if both of these are true:

1. You (or your spouse) are still actively working. 2. Your health coverage is through that current job — not COBRA, not a retiree plan.

When the job or the coverage ends, you get a Special Enrollment Period of up to 8 months to sign up for Part B without a lifetime penalty. Missing that window can mean paying more every month, for as long as you have Medicare.

If your employer has fewer than 20 workers, ask HR whether you should take Part B at 65 anyway. In small-group situations, Medicare often needs to be in place for your coverage to work as expected.

Don't forget Part D — even if you feel healthy

Part D covers prescription drugs. Your employer plan may already include drug coverage that is "creditable," meaning it is at least as good as a standard Medicare drug plan. If it is, you can delay Part D without a penalty.

Your plan should send you a creditable coverage notice each fall. Save it. If your drug coverage ever stops being creditable — or your job ends — you have 63 days to pick up a Part D plan without a late fee.

A few 2026 figures worth knowing when you do eventually enroll in Part D:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for the year.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" is gone as of 2025; there are now three coverage phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments if that helps your budget.

A quick word on higher earners (IRMAA)

If your income is above certain levels, you pay a surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums called IRMAA. For 2026, IRMAA kicks in above $109,000 for a single filer (higher for joint filers). If you are still working and earning well, factor this into whether — and when — to enroll in Part B.

When you finally retire: the timing checklist

When retirement (or the end of job coverage) is on the horizon, walk through this:

• Note the last day your employer coverage ends.
• Use your 8-month Part B Special Enrollment Period; don't wait.
• If you want a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you also have a 2-month window after job coverage ends to enroll.
• If you want a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy, check Nebraska's rules — some guaranteed-issue protections apply when you leave employer coverage, but timing matters.
• Two national windows to keep in mind: the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan. 1 – March 31).

Where to get personal help in Beatrice

Because every job, every plan and every household is a little different, a 20-minute conversation with someone neutral can save real headaches.

• Medicare.gov — official rules, forms and enrollment.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7 phone help.
• Nebraska SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) — free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Nebraskans.
• Your employer's HR or benefits office — ask, in writing, how the plan coordinates with Medicare.