It depends on employer size
| Your situation at 65 | Who pays first | Do you need Part B now? |
|---|---|---|
| Group coverage from your or your spouse's current job, 20 or more employees | The group plan | No; you can delay without a penalty |
| Group coverage from current work, fewer than 20 employees | Medicare | Usually yes; check with the plan |
| COBRA, retiree coverage or an individual plan | Medicare | Yes; sign up when first eligible |
If you're under 65 and have Medicare because of a disability, the threshold is 100 employees instead of 20.
Signing up later
When your job or group coverage ends, whichever comes first, you have an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B. Apply through Social Security with form CMS-40B and form CMS-L564, which your employer completes to show you had group coverage. If you're also leaving a group plan's drug coverage, you have two full months after it ends to join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Your six-month Medigap open enrollment period starts when your Part B starts.
Texas public employers and retirees
- Still teaching at 65? Your active-employee plan counts as coverage from current work. When you retire, TRS-Care Medicare Advantage requires Part B. See do TRS retirees need Medicare Part B.
- Retiring from the State of Texas? ERS says you need Part A and Part B for HealthSelect Medicare Advantage. See can ERS retirees choose their own Medicare plan.
- Military families: TRICARE has its own Part B rules. See does TRICARE For Life work with Medicare.
Get help
Ask your employer's benefits office how its plan works with Medicare. A licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life can help you compare Medicare plans for when you retire, from the companies they work with, at no cost to you, at (512) 265-6565, TTY 711. See working past 65.
Related questions
How do I sign up for Medicare in Texas?
Applying through Social Security.
When can I buy Medigap in Texas?
Your Medigap window starts with Part B.
Where is the Social Security office near me?
Finding an office and booking a visit.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Working past 65
- Medicare.gov — Which insurance pays first
- Medicare.gov — When can I sign up for Medicare?
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
- CMS — Form CMS-40B
Frequently asked questions
Should I still take Part A while I'm working?
If you qualify for Part A without a premium, you can sign up for it while you keep your job coverage. Be careful if you contribute to a health savings account (HSA): Medicare.gov says to stop HSA contributions six months before you apply for Medicare or Social Security benefits to avoid a tax penalty.
Does COBRA count as coverage from current work?
No. COBRA, retiree coverage and individual coverage don't let you delay Part B. Your eight-month Special Enrollment Period starts when your job or group coverage ends, even if you choose COBRA.
What is the penalty if I miss my window?
The Part B late enrollment penalty adds 10% to your premium for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't, for as long as you have Part B. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month.
What about drug coverage while I'm working?
If your employer's drug coverage is creditable, meaning expected to pay at least as much as standard Medicare drug coverage, you can wait to join a Part D plan. You won't owe a Part D penalty if you don't go more than 63 days without creditable drug coverage.
Medicare in your Texas county
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