Medicare 2026

Still working past 65 in Kettering? How to time Medicare with your job coverage

KETTERING, Ohio — Turning 65 while you're still on the job used to be simple: you signed up for Medicare, and that was that. Today, more people in Montgomery County are working past 65, and the question isn't whether to enroll — it's when. The right answer depends on the size of your employer, the kind of coverage you have, and a few deadlines that can quietly cost you if you miss them.

The rule that changes everything: your employer's size

Medicare's coordination rules hinge on one number — how many people your employer employs.

If the company has 20 or more employees, your job-based plan generally pays first and Medicare pays second. That means you can usually keep your employer coverage and delay Part B (and Part D) without a late penalty.

If the company has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually pays first. In that case, signing up for Part A and Part B at 65 is important, because your employer plan may only cover what Medicare doesn't. Skipping enrollment could leave you with big gaps.

If you're not sure which category you're in, ask your HR or benefits office in writing.

Part A at 65: usually yes, sometimes no

Most people take premium-free Part A (hospital insurance) at 65, even if they're still working. It costs nothing if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough, and it can help fill gaps around inpatient care.

There is one big exception: if you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you must stop HSA contributions before Medicare begins. Enrolling in any part of Medicare — including Part A — ends your HSA eligibility. If you plan to keep contributing, you may want to delay Part A and hold off on filing for Social Security, since Social Security automatically enrolls you in Part A.

Part B: the timing decision that matters most

Part B (doctor and outpatient care) has a monthly premium, and it's where most timing mistakes happen.

• Delaying is usually safe if your employer has 20+ workers and offers you active-employee coverage (not retiree coverage, and not COBRA — those don't count as "current employer coverage" for delay purposes).
• When you leave the job or the coverage ends, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without a late penalty.
• Miss that window, and you could face a permanent late-enrollment penalty added to your Part B premium — plus a wait for the next General Enrollment Period.

COBRA and retiree plans are common tripwires. They feel like employer coverage, but Medicare doesn't treat them the same way. If you go on COBRA at 65, the clock for enrolling in Part B has usually already started.

Part D and drug coverage while you're working

If your employer plan includes prescription drug coverage that Medicare considers "creditable" (as good as or better than Part D), you can delay Part D without a penalty. Your plan should send you a notice each year telling you whether your drug coverage is creditable — keep it.

Here are some Medicare drug coverage features to know when you do enroll:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments if you choose.

If your income is higher, keep in mind that IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026 (higher for joint filers).

Kettering-area context

Kettering is in Montgomery County, where Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level and updated each fall. If and when you do move from employer coverage to Medicare, you'll have choices between Original Medicare (with or without a Medigap policy and a separate Part D plan) and Medicare Advantage (Part C), which bundles hospital, medical and usually drug coverage into one plan.

You don't have to make that decision until you're actually leaving your job coverage. When the time comes, the Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 – March 31 for people already in an Advantage plan.

A simple checklist before you decide

• Confirm your employer's size and whether your plan is considered "current employer coverage."
• Ask HR whether your drug coverage is creditable — get it in writing if you can.
• If you use an HSA, decide whether to delay Part A.
• Mark your calendar for the 8-month Special Enrollment Period if your job or coverage ends.
• Keep every Medicare notice your plan sends you.