By Rusty Gloor, National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens
Dear Rusty: I just turned 64 and now get stuff about Medicare and Medigap and so on. I really don’t know how to retire when it’s time. What should I do? What am I looking for? Am I eligible for anything as of now? I’m so confused about all this that I don’t even know if I can retire when it’s time. Maybe I should just continue working so I don’t have to try to figure this out. Signed: Confused
Dear Confused: Deciding when to retire from work is usually a difficult decision for everyone, so don’t feel alone as you struggle with deciding what’s best for you personally. I’ll try to provide some insight into what you should be looking at now, at age 64:
The reason you’re now getting all that unsolicited information about Medicare and “Medigap” is because you’re approaching the magic age of 65, when you first become eligible for those senior healthcare services. But if you are still working and now have “creditable” healthcare coverage from your employer, you don’t need to enroll in any Medicare plan until your employer coverage ends (If your employer healthcare coverage is a group plan with at least 20 participants, that coverage is “creditable”). So, if you plan to continue working and have creditable healthcare coverage, you can simply ignore all those healthcare solicitations. You don’t need to worry about enrolling in Medicare until your creditable employer coverage ends, at which point you will be able to enroll in a Medicare program without incurring a late enrollment penalty.
You also do not need to apply for Social Security now (or at age 65) – you can wait until you retire from working full time to apply for Social Security. In fact, you probably should wait until you fully retire from working to claim Social Security, because at age 64 (or 65) you will be subject to Social Security’s “earnings test” if you claim SS benefits. The earnings test limits how much you can earn before Social Security takes away some of your benefits and, if your earnings are high enough, it could even disqualify you from getting SS benefits while you are still working. Social Security’s earnings test applies until you reach your full retirement age, which is 66 years and 6 months. If you claim Social Security before that and exceed the annual earnings limit ($19,560 for 2022), SS will take away benefits equal to $1 for every $2 you are over the limit. So, if you’re working full time and plan to continue that, waiting to apply for Social Security would be prudent. Delaying Social Security would also mean a higher benefit when you later claim because your benefit will grow for as long as you delay (up to age 70). And although you will become eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, if you’re still working and have creditable healthcare coverage from your employer at that time, you can defer enrolling in Medicare until your employer coverage ends.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
As for all the retired military in the area you must move from Tricare to Medicare at 65 years old. All prescriptions are covered by Tricare still and you will receive Tricare for Life as a supplement to Medicare. Its been my experience with these these two additions to Medicare I found no value in Medicare Advantage. However, if you have major dental issues or eye issues this may not work for you. Lastly, if a spose is not 65 years old when applying for Medicare they must stay on Tricare, so yes you will have two premiums (Tricare/Medicare) per month until you both reach 65 years old. This is bull too me, based on the promises I received enlisting into the Army in the early 70’s.
AARP United plan g is the most cost effective plan there is, if you need to go to the Dr alot , if your healthy you can get one of these advantage plans that leave you with huge percentages you have to pay( they don’t advertise it) or tell you about it unless you ask . Insurance companies make a lot of money on advantage plans, because they have to pay out the least. That’s why it’s so heavily promoted.