Medicare 2026

Still Working at 65 in Lindenhurst? How Medicare Fits In

LINDENHURST, N.Y. — Turning 65 while you're still clocking in at work brings a question a lot of Long Islanders wrestle with: Do you need to sign up for Medicare right away, or can you stay on your employer's health plan?

The honest answer is, "It depends." It depends on the size of your employer, the kind of coverage you have, and what you want your costs to look like. Here's a plain-language walk-through so you can make a calm, informed choice.

Start with the size of your employer

The most important factor is how many people work at your company.

• 20 or more employees: Your employer's group health plan is generally the primary payer, and Medicare would be secondary if you enrolled. Many people in this situation delay Part B to avoid paying its monthly premium while they still have solid job-based coverage.
• Fewer than 20 employees: Medicare usually becomes the primary payer once you're eligible, and your employer plan pays second. In that case, delaying Medicare can leave gaps in coverage — so most people in small-employer situations do enroll at 65.

If you're not sure which category you fall into, ask your HR or benefits office in writing. This one detail changes almost everything about the decision.

Source: CMS — Medicare basics (medicare.gov).

Part A is usually the easy call

Part A (hospital insurance) is premium-free for most people who've worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Because there's no monthly cost, many workers sign up for Part A at 65 even if they keep employer coverage.

One important exception: if you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can't keep adding money to it once you're enrolled in any part of Medicare, including Part A. If your HSA matters to you, talk with your benefits team before enrolling.

Part B: enroll now, or delay?

Part B (doctor and outpatient care) has a monthly premium, so this is where the coordination question really lives.

If your employer coverage is considered "creditable" and your company has 20+ employees, you can usually delay Part B without a late penalty. When your job ends — or your coverage ends — you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without a penalty.

If you skip Part B without qualifying employer coverage, you may face a lifelong late-enrollment penalty added to your premium. That's the mistake worth avoiding.

Don't forget about drug coverage

Part D (prescription drugs) has its own rules. If your employer plan includes drug coverage that Medicare considers "creditable," you can delay Part D without penalty. Your plan should send you a Creditable Coverage Notice each year — hang onto it.

A few 2026 figures worth knowing:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 for the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments if you choose.

Higher earners should also know about IRMAA — an income-based surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums that begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

What's available around Lindenhurst

Lindenhurst is in Suffolk County, where Medicare beneficiaries have access to a broad set of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options offered by multiple carriers. Availability is set at the county level, not the village or ZIP level, so anyone shopping locally is looking at the same Suffolk County menu. You can see the full list — with the current year's benefits, networks, and pharmacies — using the Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare.

Key dates to circle

• Initial Enrollment Period: the 7-month window around your 65th birthday.
• Special Enrollment Period: 8 months after employer coverage ends, for Part B.
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 each year.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31 each year.