Still working vs. already retired
If you or a spouse is still working and the employer has 20 or more employees, you may be able to delay Part B without a late-enrollment penalty. Get that in writing from the benefits office. Smaller employers follow different rules. Do not guess from a friend’s situation.
HSAs, COBRA, and retiree coverage
HSA contributions generally must stop once you enroll in Medicare. COBRA and some retiree plans can look like they replace Medicare; they often coordinate instead, and delaying Part B can still create a penalty if the coverage is not creditable. Confirm with the plan sponsor and Medicare.gov before you enroll or delay.
After Parts A and B
Retirees still decide how to handle remaining medical costs and prescriptions: Medicare Advantage, or Original Medicare plus a Supplement plus Part D. Neither path is automatically better. Doctors, drugs, travel, and ZIP code all matter. We explain the structure. You decide.
California help that is not a sales pitch
California HICAP offers free counseling at 1-800-434-0222. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 711) have official enrollment rules. Alan is a California licensed insurance agent in Arcadia. A general Medicare conversation is for how Medicare works. If you later want to discuss specific plans, Alan will explain the next steps.
My Medicare Checkup
Answer a few questions about your ZIP code, what matters about cost and doctors, and where you get care. The summary shows the questions those answers raise. Confirm each one with the office, the plan, or Medicare.gov. A listing in a directory, or the name of a plan, does not show whether a doctor is in the network, whether a prescription is covered, or what you would pay this year.
Start My Medicare CheckupYou will get a summary of the questions to verify. You can also talk it through with Alan.
2026 figures
Medicare eligibility date
See when Part A and Part B can start at 65, and your Initial Enrollment window.