# (Yet another) Medicare question: What do I actually \*need\* to do now? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167 "2025-06-03T16:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/1 "2025-06-03T16:02:36Z")
Well, technically it’s a little later for me, but for my wife: I am still employed with a pretty good plan. Chances are, unless I get fired, I’ll be working for another two years, possibly three. My wife is retired. She will be 65 later this year, but has been receiving her SS checks for two years. I am not receiving SS. A) Do we _have_ to sign up for Part A or Part B while I’m still employed? B) Will she automatically get a deduction for Part B since she’s getting SS, or will she have to actually sign up for it for that deduction? C) Does signing up for any part of Medicare prevent additional contributions to an HSA? These might have been covered in the earlier omnibus Medicare thread, but there’s a lot to wade thru for (what should be) a pretty simple solution. I just don’t want us to get caught where we’re stuck with penalties indefinitely. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/2 "2025-06-03T16:27:08Z")
What’s your wife’s current insurance status? The answers to your question will largely depend on that. Generally speaking, there’s no downside to enrolling in Part A when turning 65 (I did, even though I kept working for another 5+ years). There’s no premium, and in my case Medicare became a secondary insurer for hospitalization. As for the HSA, I’m not sure whether enrollment in Part A precludes it (though I believe enrollment in Part B does). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/3 "2025-06-03T16:28:41Z")
She’s on mine thru my employer. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/4 "2025-06-03T16:39:08Z")
According to [this](https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/plan/when-to-sign-up), she will be enrolled in Part A automatically because she is receiving benefits. Since she’s on your plan, she can defer Part B until you are no longer covered; the site goes into more detail. Hope that helps. (Shameless plug: when the time comes to enroll in B/C/D/G/Whatever, a [SHIP](https://www.shiphelp.org/) representative can be of inestimable help. I speak from experience.) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/5 "2025-06-03T16:50:21Z")
OK, thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/6 "2025-06-03T16:58:39Z")
My wife is retired, and receiving disability payments from Social Security. Like yours, she is covered by my health insurance from work. She was automatically enrolled in Part A, and we deferred her enrollment in Part B since she has coverage through my employer. According to my workplace benefits department, I can continue to make contributions to my HSA, because it’s in my name, and I am not currently enrolled in Medicare. My wife’s enrollment does not affect my eligibility. I would suggest asking your own benefits or human resources department about your specific situation, but the answer will likely be similar. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/7 "2025-06-03T17:12:14Z")
I believe that medicare is automatic at age 65 if you are recieving benifits. You also have to inform them of your intent to enroll in Part B at 65 once you primary insurance expires. My understanding is that this must be done for either of you when you turn 65, or you will face penalties for not signing up whn you are 65. Best to go to [Medicare.gov](http://Medicare.gov) now to get the correct answers. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@Old\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Wench)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/8 "2025-06-03T17:15:52Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > (Shameless plug: when the time comes to enroll in B/C/D/G/Whatever, a [SHIP](https://www.shiphelp.org/) representative can be of inestimable help. I speak from experience.) I also highly recommend SHIP. I was completely overwhelmed by the options and if it was better for me to get a supplemental (Medigap?) plan or an Advantage plan. The SHIP representative with whom I spoke several times was able to clearly explain how they both worked, researched my best options, and told me things to look for and things to avoid. She then recommended one specific Highmark plan (and there were so many!). When I later met with a Highmark representative to actually sign up, she recommended the very same plan that SHIP had recommended (without knowing SHIP’s recommendation up front). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/9 "2025-06-03T17:21:21Z")
Yep. Get a representative through one of those mentioned. My understanding it will greatly reduce your stressing over this. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-medicare-question-what-do-i-actually-need-to-do-now/1019167/10 "2025-06-03T18:58:12Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > when the time comes to enroll in B/C/D/G/Whatever, a [SHIP](https://www.shiphelp.org/) representative can be of inestimable help. I speak from experience.) Echoing this~trained, free help navigating those rocky shores. I was sooo glad I did.