President Biden has been on a mission to reduce the age of Medicare enrollment to 60. During the 2020 election, he mentioned numerous times the importance of lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60 as part of his healthcare reform platform. The reasoning behind lowering the age is that doing so will provide healthcare to those who retire early, or who lack health insurance through their employer. But is Medicare at 60 really coming, or was it all just talk?
The Proposal
On September 3, 2021, Representative Pramila Jayapal introduced H.R.5165, the Improving Medicare Coverage Act. This bill proposes lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60 as a way to expand access to health insurance for older adults. The change is designed to last 5 years, after which time Congress would re-evaluate it.
Who Would Be Eligible
If the Improving Medicare Coverage Act were to become law in its original form, all US citizens would have the ability to enroll in Medicare at age 60 without any additional requirements. That means millions more Americans would be able to enroll in Medicare, but it is not clear if the penalties people must pay for delayed enrollment would become effective when they turn 60 or 65.
The Cost Of Medicare at 60
There are some financial concerns that come with reducing the age of Medicare eligibility to 60. One of the major concerns is the possible risk of the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund becoming insolvent, or running out of money. If more people enrolled in Medicare, it’s possible that there wouldn’t be enough revenue to cover Part A premiums after just a few years, possibly by 2026. In addition, adding millions more Americans to Medicare would mean that the trust fund would need more funding, and it is currently unclear where this money would come from.
Will It Happen?
It’s not clear if the bill has enough bipartisan support to pass. There were more than 100 Democratic cosponsors of the bill in the House, and some Republicans have also voiced their support for lowering the eligibility age. But there are still some reservations regarding how much it would end up costing.
How You Can Save Right Now
As Medicare costs increase, older adults need to find ways to battle these rising prices, whatever their age. One way to do this is by investing in a Medicare Supplement Plan. The best way to find the right plan for you is to get personalized assistance from an EZ agent. There are 10 different Medicare Supplement Plans to choose from, which means there’s sure to be a plan that’s right for you.
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A lot of times, people think that once they retire then they are eligible to start receiving Medicare benefits. But, that is not necessarily true. If you retire early there will be some consequences with your healthcare. Specifically, you will have to pay for it out of pocket.
Retirment is a time to enjoy no more work and not worry. But if you retire early before Medicare age (65), you will have to pay for your own health insurance.
Medicare Age
You can begin applying for Medicare coverage 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and 3 months after. For example, if you turn 65 in January, you can enroll anytime from October through April. However, you can not sign up for Medicare any earlier than that.
If You Retire Early
Retiring before you turn 65 will leave you without health insurance. You are not able to acquire or sign up for Medicare, which will leave you looking for private health insurance. You will have to pay for it our of pocket until you are eligible for Medicare. Social security will kick in three years before Medicare eligibility. This means you can start receiving benefits at the age of 62, but it comes with some repercussion. There will be reduction in payments since you have not reached retirement age.
If You Retire Later
Unlike retiring early, if you retire later in the workforce, you will be able to get Medicare. It is always best to look into retirement at the age of 65 or later. You are eligible for a special enrollment period when you are still on a group health insurance plan provided by your employer. After you turn 65 or later and you decide to retire, you will be able to enroll into Medicare during the special enrollment period. You must enroll no later than 8 months after the group health plan or employment ends.
If you fail to enroll into Medicare at age 65, you will have to pay penalties.
Penalties
It is important to know that when you turn 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare. If you do not enroll when you’re first ineligible, then you may face penalties. For Part A, you can end up paying 10% more on monthly premiums for twice as long as you waited to sign up. For example, if you delayed signing up by one year, then you will pay the penalty for 2 years. As for Part B, you will have a 10% penalty for each full 12-month period you could have enrolled but did not. For example, if you waited 3 years to enroll, then you will have to pay an additional 30% on your monthly premium.
If you have any questions while retiring or need any clarification, EZ.Insure can help. We provide you with your own trained agent within your region that can answer any questions. For a quote, you can enter your zip code in the bar above, or contact an agent by emailing replies@ez.insure, or calling 855-220-1144. Our main mission is to inform you of plans and quotes, and help you sign up for free without hassle or jumping around from agent to agent. We make the process as easy as possible for you.
