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A Seniors Guide article, drawing on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, describes six additional Medicare mistakes, including missing enrollment deadlines and misunderstanding which employer-related coverage lets someone delay Part B. It also explains that income from two years earlier can affect 2026 premiums and that some people whose income has fallen may appeal a surcharge.
Seniors Guide has published the second part of a two-part report based on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, describing six additional Medicare mistakes that can lead to coverage gaps, late-enrollment penalties or higher premiums. The advice centers on sign-up deadlines, the limits of employer-related coverage and income-based surcharges; the report says some details depend on an individual’s work and insurance circumstances.
People who are not yet receiving Social Security benefits generally need to take action to enroll in Medicare at 65. The report describes a seven-month initial enrollment period, beginning three months before the month a person turns 65 and ending three months afterward. It says people may be able to delay Part B if they or a spouse have coverage through a current employer, but warns that retiree coverage and COBRA are not treated the same way as active-employee coverage for this purpose.
For someone covered by a current employer with at least 20 employees, the report says Part B enrollment can generally be delayed while that coverage continues. After the person or spouse stops working, or the group health plan ends, a special enrollment period of eight months may apply. Missing the relevant window could mean waiting for another enrollment period, a gap in coverage or a late-enrollment penalty. The report advises checking with the employer about how its plan coordinates with Medicare.
The article also warns that Medicare enrollment affects health savings account contributions: a person enrolled in Medicare cannot contribute to an HSA, and the report flags a six-month lookback issue when enrolling in Part A. It further says higher income can trigger Part B and Part D surcharges. For 2026, it lists a standard Part B premium of $202.90 per month and income thresholds based on 2024 adjusted gross income: more than $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers. The listed monthly surcharges range from $81 to $443.90 for Part B and $14.50 to $91 for Part D.
Deadlines Can Affect Coverage Costs
The mistakes described can affect both access to coverage and household costs. A person who assumes COBRA or retiree insurance allows them to postpone Part B may discover that Medicare should have been their primary coverage. Depending on the circumstances, late enrollment can leave a person with a coverage gap and a recurring penalty.
Financial decisions can also have a Medicare consequence. The report says Social Security uses income information from two years earlier to determine income-related premiums. A Roth conversion or a large withdrawal from a tax-deferred account could raise reported income in the relevant year, potentially affecting later premiums. The figures and thresholds in the article are tied to 2026 and should not be treated as timeless amounts.
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How Medicare Timing Works
The report is the second installment in a series; it says the first part covered five other common Medicare mistakes. Its focus is on choices people may face around age 65, retirement or a change in employer coverage, as well as tax and retirement-income decisions that can affect premiums.
The source distinguishes coverage through a current employer from retiree benefits and COBRA. It also says income-related adjustments for 2026 are based on 2024 tax information, while 2025 tax information will be used for 2027 premiums. Those timelines help explain why a financial move made before retirement can affect Medicare costs later.
Individual Eligibility Still Varies
The supplied report does not include the full details of all six mistakes: its text ends partway through the discussion of appealing an income-related surcharge after retirement. It therefore does not provide the complete appeal criteria or explain every situation in which a surcharge may be reduced. The source also does not provide a publication date, and its 2026 figures may change in later years.
Whether someone can delay Part B without penalty depends on the type of coverage and employment circumstances. The report advises asking the employer how its plan works with Medicare and points readers to the Social Security Administration for enrollment information. Individual eligibility and premium decisions should be checked with the relevant agencies and plan administrators.
Check Enrollment and Appeal Deadlines
People approaching 65, leaving work or losing employer coverage should verify their enrollment window with Social Security and confirm how Medicare coordinates with their specific insurance plan. Those who have an HSA should review the timing of Medicare enrollment and contributions before taking action.
Readers who receive an income-related surcharge after a retirement-related drop in income can ask the Social Security Administration whether they qualify to appeal. The supplied source does not state the appeal process or decision timeline, so those details need to be confirmed directly with the agency. Anyone planning a Roth conversion or a large retirement-account withdrawal may also want to check how it could affect future Medicare premiums.
Key Questions
When does someone generally need to sign up for Medicare at 65?
The report describes a seven-month initial enrollment period: the three months before the month a person turns 65, that birthday month, and the three months afterward. People already receiving Social Security benefits are generally enrolled automatically in Parts A and B; others may need to apply.
Can COBRA or retiree coverage let someone delay Part B?
According to the report, COBRA and retiree coverage are not the same as coverage through a current employer for deciding whether someone can delay Part B. Check with the employer and Social Security about the specific plan and circumstances.
How long is the special enrollment period after leaving work?
The report says an eight-month special enrollment period may apply after the person or spouse stops working or the group health plan ends. It advises checking the applicable dates rather than assuming continued coverage changes the deadline.
What income figures does the report give for 2026 surcharges?
It lists thresholds of more than $109,000 for single filers and $218,000 for joint filers, based on 2024 adjusted gross income. The article gives a 2026 standard Part B premium of $202.90 per month and says surcharges vary by income. These figures are specific to 2026.
Can a Medicare surcharge be appealed after retirement?
The report says someone whose income has fallen after retirement may be able to seek a reduction in an income-related surcharge. It does not include the full eligibility rules or process in the supplied text; contact the Social Security Administration to check whether an appeal applies.
Source: rss
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