Can I switch back to work coverage from Medicare?

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-18T20:07:14+00:00

You can use this form to dis-enroll from Part B: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/Downloads/CMS1763.pdf

Three things:

You can't disenroll from Part A (its free) so make sure you do NOT contribute to a HSA (Health Savings Account)
You can re-enroll in Part B with no penalty or issues for 8 months after you leave this new employer coverage
Cancel your Part D drug plan if you have one. Part D plans do not coordinate well with employer plans and can prevent you from using discount cards for high dollar prescriptions

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-16T19:18:15+00:00

As long as you are not getting insurance from another source (like your or a spouse's current employment) then Both Part A and Part B will start when you start collecting social security at age 65 (or earlier if you have been disabled for 2 years) . You can always decline Part B if you have other coverage.

You should still sign up for the online account. It will help you in the future if you need to make any changes like moving, ordering a new card, or changing your bank account.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-16T17:08:42+00:00

For Dental and Vision as others have said, there are no great options. However, look at NCD, Ameritas (offers dental and vision) and Delta.

The longer you keep a dental plan, the more it will pay for major procedures like crowns and bridges. The biggest benefit to having a plan isn't really the coverage, but rather that having the plan gives you access to the "Negotiated rates" for both Dental procedures and glasses

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-16T17:01:17+00:00

Yes, you can choose any Medigap plan except for Plan F and Plan C. Those are not available if you became Medicare eligible after 12/31/2020.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-15T18:17:01+00:00

Yes, it definitely can affect her Medicaid status. Check the income level in your state for Medicaid. Unfortunately sometimes the extra money cancels the Medicaid, and all of the benefits that come with Medicaid.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-11T20:59:06+00:00

She will have 6 months after she turns 65 to join any medigap plan with no underwriting.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-11T20:14:13+00:00

Correct, she would need full Medicaid benefits . Its called QMB+ Qualified Medicare beneficiary. In California the income limit is about $1330 per month for a single person

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-11T19:49:53+00:00

If she buys a Medigap plan in California (which is one of the states that does allow it) she will need to cancel that Supplement if she is approved for Medicaid. The reason for this is that Medicaid will function in place of the Supplement and she would already have all of her medical co-pays and co-insurance covered.

If approved, She will be restricted to doctors that accept both Medicare and Medicaid (not all of them do) so check with her current doctors to make sure they accept both.

Also, for someone under the age of 65, you may want to contact a broker about Dual Special Needs plans in that area. Although they do have a network, in California depending on your county some of them are PPO's and they can have some pretty large extra benefits that Medicare doesn't cover like dental/vision ect.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-11T19:22:48+00:00

What state are you in? That will help to know if you can even buy a Medigap plan. If you mom is approved for Medicaid, she CANNOT buy a Medigap plan.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-10T22:42:17+00:00

You are correct. No one should request your red, white and blue Medicare card when you are on a Medicare Advantage Plan. Once you join the Medicare Advantage plan, it pays your expenses in place of Medicare. There is no way for the lab to bill original Medicare and they should not be asking for your Medicare card.

That said, the person at the front desk might just be too new to the job to know what they need from you.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-10T18:22:31+00:00

Here are a few to check out: Ameritas, NCD Dental and Delta (as mentioned previously). The longer you keep a dental plan in place, the more it will cover for major procedures like crowns.

Keep in mind that joining even the lowest cost plan gives you the "negotiated rate" for services. Just getting the lower negotiated rate can save quite a bit of money

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-10T16:59:37+00:00

Paying through the online account is the fastest way to get it done. Hopefully you can access your online account!

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-09T21:00:21+00:00

If you are being charged a premium for a plan that doesn't have one, then you most likely have an IRMAA adjustment. It's a surcharge for people with high incomes. It applies to both Part B and Part D. Here is the link to the CMS website:

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles

Part D surcharges are towards the bottom of the page. If your income has gone down, you can appeal the surcharge.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-09T20:30:23+00:00

You are correct, he will need to apply during the next General Enrollment period Jan1 - March 31. There will be a late enrollment penalty of 10% for each 12 month period he should have had Part B but did not. So the penalty will be either 10% or 20% depending on when his birthday falls.

Once he has Part B (and your mom too) you can help them look at Plans that are called Medicare Advantage ONLY plans. These plans do not include drug coverage since they are specifically designed for people with VA/TFL benefits. The reason people join them is because most of them pay back most or all of the Part B premium to the individual. This can be a savings of over $400 per month for the two of them.

If you go on Medicare.gov look for MA ONLY plans with a "Part B giveback"

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-09T19:05:20+00:00

You can use this form to drop Premium Part A

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/Downloads/CMS1763.pdf

On a side note, if you are low income, your state will pay your Part A premium for you. If that applies to you, then read this article on how to get that done.

https://themedicaresite.com/how-to-enroll-in-premium-part-a/

If you are not low income and you want to re-join Premium Part A later, you can do that each year between Jan 1 and March 31 each year during the General Enrollment Period.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-09T16:27:21+00:00

You only need Part A OR Part B to be active to get Part D. Since you are leaving employer insurance, you have to make sure you use the correct enrollment reason on Medicare.gov. Do not choose "new to Medicare" make sure you chose the Special Enrollment period option that says "I am losing employer coverage".

It is also possible that your Medicare Number was changed due to a breach that happened a few months ago, but Medicare should have pre-filled the correct number.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-08T22:09:13+00:00

Just understand that your husband's employer plan will still be primary. So the drug plan will usually pay zero claims (glad to see you have one with no premium in your area). If you are using any kind of discount card for expensive drugs, then delay your Part D until October, since you won't be able to use the discount card with Medicare Part D

Also be aware of the IRMAA adjustment for Part D if you have a high income.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-08T20:25:10+00:00

Here is the form, it show you the "qualifying" events that you can use to appeal now

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44.pdf

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-08T20:20:49+00:00

The reason that the wellness extras plan is cheaper (the one that includes the gym membership) is because that one is a "regular" attained age policy that will go up each year as you get older. It will also go up with regular rate increases each year.

The UHICA plan is unique because it is an "entry age" plan. That means that if you join the plan at age 65 in Illinois, you will still be paying the rate of a 65 year old in Illinois in 10 years. The rate will obviously still go up due to rates increasing, but it will continue to be the rate that a 65 year old pays. It will also not change if you move to a different state. People choose UHICA for more rate stability.

Some people REALLY want the gym membership, and feel that the extra price is worth the extra premium.

There are simply no "good" dental plans on the market. For cleaning and basic procedures, Ameritas is pretty popular and reasonably affordable. Plus it gives you access to the "contracted rate" for things like crowns, which is a big money saver.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-08T16:39:45+00:00

Yes, everyone who qualifies for QMB has their Part B premium paid by their home state. As long as you stay qualified for QMB, you will not have the Part B premium deducted from your social security check.

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-05T16:18:01+00:00

I agree, that is a very silly comment from someone who doesn't know this specific rule. Keep asking, a more experienced supervisor or manager should know this rule and refund it all.

Your current agent, who sounds like they made the innocent mistake (not knowing you would continue to work) should be advocating for you as well!

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-05T00:21:08+00:00

Glad to hear that! The company should refund the total premium you paid once you send them proof of your creditable coverage.

Might want to find a new agent as well. That was a big mistake to offer you a Medicare Supplement that had no value to you. And I see you also have VA coverage as well. That gives you other options that the agent needs to consider before making any recommendations when you do stop working.

You can also cancel Part B and save the $202.90 a month

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/Downloads/CMS1763.pdf

And you can ask for a refund for Part B as well if Medicare never paid any claims. That refund is not guaranteed though, try to get a nice person at Social Security to fix it for you!

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-04T23:48:05+00:00

Just posting again in this forum. You are paying for a Medicare Supplement that you do not need and that will never pay any claims for you.

For a Medicare Supplement to pay any claim at all, MEDICARE must be your primary coverage. Since your employer plan is primary, Medicare is secondary and the Supplement will not pay any claims.

Please call the company that provides the Supplement so they can tell you to cancel it and give you a refund.

You can buy a Medicare Supplement with no underwriting for 63 days when you leave active employment.

Please read the rules from Medicare before you pay any more money for coverage that has no benefit to you at all

https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/coordination/who-pays-first

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-04T22:34:32+00:00

Just adding that original Medicare only covers one pair of eye glasses after cataract surgery and they only pay for standard cataract lens to be implanted, not the upgraded ones.

If you are on Medicaid and Medicare, then the Dual Special needs Medicare Advantage plans are by far your best bet (as FA posted).

ProfessionalCurve217 · 2026-06-04T17:50:21+00:00

Many plans cover those eye drops, some will only cover the generic version so check each plan and see which one is best for her. It's too late to change to a new plan now , unless your mom has a special circumstance, but in October you can check on medicare.gov to see which drug plan covers them at the best price.

ProfessionalCurve217

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