Medicare signup past 65 (plan, coverage, spouse, apply)

[happyexpat]

I'm 68 and retired in Uruguay. I'm planning to return to the US and sign up for Medicare this year. I would like to hear from anyone who has done this. Specifically, will I face a penalty for not signing up at 65? I've gone on the Medicare.gov and SS.gov websites and it still isn't clear to me. Thank you.

[arwenmark]

Have you been collecting SS since 65? or at all? If so you would have been automatically enrolled in Part A medicare .
You will likely face a penalty on part B and part D if you sign up for those.

[reed303]

When you turned 65, did you get a letter from Medicare like this one:
https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Edu...ing-Abroad.pdf

If not, you should contact the nearest Consulate or Embassy for assistance in understanding your options, based on your specific situation, mainly your past or current insurance coverages.

[happyexpat]

Originally Posted by arwenmark

Have you been collecting SS since 65? or at all? If so you would have been automatically enrolled in Part A medicare .
You will likely face a penalty on part B and part D if you sign up for those.

I started collecting SS here at 62, and received a Medicare letter at 65, enrolling me in Part A. Since Medicare doesn't apply in Uruguay, I saw no reason to start paying over $100 USD each month for Part B coverage I couldn't use.

[ihatetodust]

It appears you will have a penalty.

https://www.medicare.gov/your-medica...t-penalty.html

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Originally Posted by ihatetodust

It appears you will have a penalty.

https://www.medicare.gov/your-medica...t-penalty.html

That page also says "Usually, you don't pay a late enrollment penalty if you meet certain conditions that allow you to sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period." Unfortunately, I can't find where they list the "certain conditions." (Doesn't seem very helpful to have that paragraph but then not give any details!) Anyone know what the "certain conditions" are? (The only one I could find by checking OTHER sites is that if you or your spouse is currently working and you have health care coverage through such employment.)

ETA: kept looking and found this page: https://www.medicareinteractive.org/...-living-abroad . It DOES appear that the OP should have paid for Part B every month from the moment he was eligible even though he would get no benefit from it while living abroad -- now he faces a life-long penalty.

This is actually really good to know for those of us who consider moving outside the U.S. in retirement!!

[CindyRoos]

My spouse is 65 (turned 65 in May) and is still working and still covered with Health Insurance at work. Should my spouse have signed up for part B even though it wasn't going to be used? That seems crazy.........

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Originally Posted by CindyRoos

My spouse is 65 (turned 65 in May) and is still working and still covered with Health Insurance at work. Should my spouse have signed up for part B even though it wasn't going to be used? That seems crazy.........

That (bolded part) is the one exception that I found ... see the 1st paragraph of my post right before yours.

[arwenmark]

Your best bet is to call Medicare and tell them your situation and ask them.

[happyexpat]

I may have to pay a penalty. I need to call Medicare to get a definitive answer it seems. Thanks to you all for your time and interest in my situation. Love this website! Candice, UY expat