Medicare Supplement

Still Working at 65 in Augusta? Here's How to Time Medicare

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Turning 65 while you're still on the job can feel like a puzzle. Do you sign up for Medicare now? Wait until you retire? Will you get penalized if you guess wrong?

Augusta workers, here's what to know before you sign up

The good news: the rules are clearer than they look, and you have time to plan. Here's how Medicare fits together with employer coverage in 2026, and where to get personalized help in the Augusta area.

Part A is usually easy — Part B is the real decision

Most people qualify for premium-free Part A (hospital insurance) at 65 because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough. Since it costs nothing, many workers sign up for Part A at 65 even if they keep job coverage.

One exception: if you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you and your employer must stop making HSA contributions once you enroll in any part of Medicare. That surprises a lot of people, so check with your benefits office before enrolling.

Part B (doctor and outpatient care) has a monthly premium, so this is where the timing choice really matters.

The 20-employee rule is the key

Whether you can safely delay Part B depends on the size of the employer providing your coverage:

• 20 or more employees: Your job's health plan generally pays first, and Medicare pays second. You can usually delay Part B without a late penalty and enroll later through a Special Enrollment Period.
• Fewer than 20 employees: Medicare typically pays first. If you don't sign up for Part B at 65, your employer plan may cover very little — leaving you exposed to big bills.

If you're not sure which category your employer falls into, ask your HR or benefits contact in writing.

Special Enrollment Period: your safety net when you leave work

If you delayed Part B because you had active employer coverage (yours or a spouse's), you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up once that job or coverage ends — whichever comes first. Sign up during those 8 months and you avoid the Part B late-enrollment penalty.

Two important cautions:

• COBRA and retiree coverage don't count as active employer coverage for Medicare's timing rules. The clock starts when you leave the job, not when COBRA ends.
• The Part B late-enrollment penalty can stick with you for life, adding 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't.

Don't forget Part D — drug coverage has its own timing

If your employer plan includes prescription drug coverage that Medicare considers "creditable" (roughly, as good as Medicare's), you can delay Part D without a penalty. Your plan should send you a Creditable Coverage Notice each year — keep it.

A few Part D facts to know for 2026:

• The out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,100.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three simpler phases.
• The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.

What's available around Augusta

Augusta is in Richmond County, where Medicare beneficiaries can choose from Original Medicare (Parts A and B, often paired with a standalone Part D drug plan and sometimes a Medigap policy) or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that bundles hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage together.

Plan availability, networks, and pricing are set at the county level, so a neighbor across the state line in Aiken County, S.C., may see a different lineup than you do in Richmond County. The official plan-finder at Medicare.gov shows the current-year options for your ZIP code.

Higher earners: watch for IRMAA

If your income is high, you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of your Part B and Part D premiums. For 2026, IRMAA surcharges kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer (and higher thresholds for joint filers). Medicare uses your tax return from two years ago, so a big final working year can affect your premium later. If your income drops when you retire, you can ask Social Security to reconsider.

Key dates to circle

• Initial Enrollment Period: the 7-month window around your 65th birthday (3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after).
• Special Enrollment Period: 8 months after employer coverage ends, if you delayed Part B while working.
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 each year, to join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, a one-time chance each year to switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare.