Can a Person Have Group Health Insurance and Medicare Coverage?

When you reach the age of 65, you become eligible to participate in Medicare for your insurance coverage. If you are still working at that point, you may also be covered by a group health insurance plan. You can get coverage under both types of plans if you choose to do so.

Enrollment in Part A

• Medicare is broken up into several sections, one of which is Part A. Part A provides individuals with hospital coverage. For this section of Medicare, you do not have to pay any premium, and you are enrolled automatically once you turn 65. If you are covered by a group health insurance plan, there is no harm in enrolling in Part A since it does not cost you anything. You will receive a Medicare card in the mail a few months before you turn 65.

Medicare Part B

• Another portion of Medicare that is offered by the federal government is Medicare Part B. This part of Medicare provides doctor coverage for enrollees. With this portion of Medicare, you do have to pay a monthly premium for the benefits. If you are covered by a group health insurance plan, you may elect to postpone enrollment into this portion of Medicare even though you are covered by Part A. You have to enroll within a certain amount time so that you do not have to pay more for premiums.

Primary Coverage

• When you choose to enroll in Medicare and are covered by a group health insurance plan, the plans will work together to provide you with health benefits. In most cases, your group health insurance plan will act as your primary plan, and Medicare will be a supplementary plan. This means that when you have medical bills, your group health insurance plan will pay first, and anything that is left over may be covered by Medicare.

Prescription Drug Coverage

• If you have prescription drug coverage from your employer, you may also choose to delay enrollment in Medicare Part D. Depending on what type of plan you have, you may have a better prescription drug plan than what you can get through Medicare. If this is the case, you have two months, after your group health insurance plan ceases, to sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage.