Medicare when you retire.
How Medicare coordinates with employer coverage, COBRA, and retiree benefits when you actually stop working.
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If you delayed Part B because of employer coverage
If you had employer or union coverage past 65 (with 20+ employees), you delayed Part B without penalty. When you retire or lose that coverage, you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Part B.
Sign up the same month you retire to avoid any coverage gap. See our Medicare + employer coverage guide.
COBRA is not creditable coverage
Important: COBRA does NOT count as employer group health coverage for Medicare's Special Enrollment Period purposes. If you delay Part B and rely only on COBRA past your 8-month SEP, you can be hit with a permanent late penalty.
Most experts recommend signing up for Part B BEFORE COBRA starts, even if your COBRA covers similar services.
Retiree health benefits
If your former employer offers retiree health benefits, they usually coordinate with Medicare:
- Medicare pays first
- Retiree plan pays second (covers some of what Medicare leaves)
Ask your benefits administrator how the retiree plan coordinates and whether you should also enroll in a separate Part D plan or Medigap.