Medicare starting age ..?

[MedicareMutt]

Here’s a summary of typical enrollment patterns for Medicare based on age:

Medicare Enrollment by Age​

1. Age 65:
   • Approximately 70% of beneficiaries enroll in Medicare when they first become eligible at age 65. This is often due to individuals retiring or planning for retirement around this age.
2. Age 66:
   • About 12% of beneficiaries enroll at age 66. Many people who delay enrollment do so because they are still working and have employer-sponsored health insurance.
3. Age 67:
   • Roughly 7% of beneficiaries choose to enroll at age 67. This age often reflects continued work or a preference to delay enrollment for various reasons.
4. Ages 68-70:
   • The percentage of new enrollees typically decreases further, with around 3-5% enrolling each year between ages 68 to 70.
5. Age 71 and Older:
   • Enrollment continues to decline significantly, with less than 2% enrolling each year after age 70.

Summary of Percentages by Age​

• 65: ~70%
• 66: ~12%
• 67: ~7%
• 68: ~3%
• 69: ~2%
• 70: ~1%
• 71 and older: <2%

The source of the data and what that survey considers medicare enrollment are not provided.

Your comment ties in with something you stated earlier ... I'm just curious as to why this is a thing ..? Unless a person has an HSA ... there is no harm in having part A while they are on an employer group plan. Part A is prepaid though 10 years of FICA payments ... you don't draw from part A while on a group plan.

 

[MedicareMutt]

Can I ask the source of this info ..?

 

[MedicareMutt]

Here’s a summary of typical enrollment patterns for Medicare based on age:

Medicare Enrollment by Age​

1. Age 65:
   • Approximately 70% of beneficiaries enroll in Medicare when they first become eligible at age 65. This is often due to individuals retiring or planning for retirement around this age.
2. Age 66:
   • About 12% of beneficiaries enroll at age 66. Many people who delay enrollment do so because they are still working and have employer-sponsored health insurance.
3. Age 67:
   • Roughly 7% of beneficiaries choose to enroll at age 67. This age often reflects continued work or a preference to delay enrollment for various reasons.
4. Ages 68-70:
   • The percentage of new enrollees typically decreases further, with around 3-5% enrolling each year between ages 68 to 70.
5. Age 71 and Older:
   • Enrollment continues to decline significantly, with less than 2% enrolling each year after age 70.

Summary of Percentages by Age​

• 65: ~70%
• 66: ~12%
• 67: ~7%
• 68: ~3%
• 69: ~2%
• 70: ~1%
• 71 and older: <2%

And thanks.

 

[LostDollar]

... you don't draw from part A while on a group plan.

I think you would if secondary payer rules said you could.

 

[LostDollar]

Your comment ties in with something you stated earlier ... I'm just curious as to why this is a thing ..? Unless a person has an HSA ... there is no harm in having part A while they are on an employer group plan.

I never said there was harm. You were asking about when people go on Medicare. Having part A is being on Medicare, and as posts by you and dutch suggest, there can sometimes be quite a time difference between when someone goes on Medicare by taking Part A and then takes Part B at a later date. That's why I asked you for your definition of being on Medicare that underlaid your original question.

The reverse can happen too, a person not eligible for premium free A taking Part B and continuing to work to get to necessary credits for premium free part A.

And I think it likely that all the uncertainties there about when a person will take SS retirement and also finally be on both Medicare Parts A and B, and C or D, are the reasons many agents just choose to go ahead and do T65 marketing. (or market to a specific older age block without knowing individual by individual when they actually went on Medicare by your definition. I think trying to figure that out could be crazy making.)

 

[MedicareMutt]

I never said there was harm. You were asking about when people go on Medicare. Having part A is being on Medicare, and as posts by you and dutch suggest, there can sometimes be quite a time difference between when someone goes on Medicare by taking Part A and then takes Part B at a later date. That's why I asked you for your definition of being on Medicare that underlaid your original question.

The reverse can happen too, a person not eligible for premium free A taking Part B and continuing to work to get to necessary credits for premium free part A.

And I think it likely that all the uncertainties there about when a person will take SS retirement and also finally be on both Medicare Parts A and B, and C or D, are the reasons many agents just choose to go ahead and do T65 marketing. (or market to a specific older age block without knowing individual by individual when they actually went on Medicare by your definition. I think trying to figure that out could be crazy making.)

Right. And some people actually pay for their part A premium in different amounts depending on how many quarters of FICA they have paid in at the point where they start being covered by part A. That's online if you are curious. It's so much premium per month if you have up to 29 quarters, etc ... Also, I'm not doubting those numbers ... I don't know ... 70% at age 65 seems high to me ... again, that's just based on my experience.