Medicare Payment Confusion

[RayR]

My wife turns 65 next month and continues to work. She received her first Medicare Quarterly bill. Does she inform payroll that she is paying quarterly? Does she not have to pay the quarterly invoice? I feel like she is paying twice for Medicare.

 

[MBSC]

If the employer has 20 or employees, the group health plan through the employer is usually the primary insurance. She has the option of signing up for free Medicare Part A at age 65 which will act as secondary insurance for inpatient hospital stays. She probably did not need to enroll in premium-based Part B but check with the company before taking any action to stop Part B.

If the employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare parts A and B are usually primary and the group health plan becomes secondary at age 65. The group health plan premium may be lower for secondary coverage. Contact the employer to verify the group health plan premium is for secondary coverage and let them know she is paying Part B.

Primary vs Secondary: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coordi...Secondary-Payer/Medicare-Secondary-Payer.html

Medicare Part B when working: http://www.medicareinteractive.org/...be-primary-or-secondary-to-employer-insurance

 

[JC]

She needs to decide if she wants medicare as a secondary insurance to the employer coverage. You can decline part B and avoid any penalties as long as you are covered by employer coverages. Most of my clients decline part B until they retire and now need Medicare insurance.

If she chooses to do this keep good records of the insurances she has. Medicare will require you to provide proof to avoid any penalties.