Star Date 06.28.25
Good morning, friends. I'm headed to the tennis courts in a few moments for 8am morning cardio on this beautiful sunny day. I had an early morning chat with my virtual assistant, Alberta, about an important topic for people in my age group and I'm sharing some of the highlights...
This 4th of July, I won’t just be celebrating our nation's independence—I’ll also be hitting the milestone of turning 65. And while I have no plans to retire just yet, I figured it was the perfect time to do a little grown-up homework: What do I need to know about Medicare?
Maybe you're approaching this age too, or helping a parent navigate the process. Either way, here are a few things I learned that might help you too:
✅ I'm Still Working, So I Don’t Have to Enroll in Medicare Part B
Because I still have great insurance through my day job, I don’t have to sign up for Medicare Part B right now. That’s the part that covers doctor visits and outpatient care—and it comes with a monthly premium. Since my work insurance counts as “creditable coverage,” I can delay Part B without paying a late penalty down the road.
🏥 But I Can Enroll in Medicare Part A
Part A covers hospital care, and for most of us, it’s free if we’ve worked 10 years or more. There’s no harm in signing up now—unless you're still contributing to a Health Savings Account (HSA). In that case, enrolling in Medicare will disqualify you from making future HSA contributions. (That was news to me!)
🕰 What Happens When I Retire?
When I finally hang up my vest—hopefully around age 70—I’ll have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty. I just have to make sure to do it within 8 months of leaving my job and ending that employer coverage.
And if I need prescription coverage, I’ll also need to enroll in Part D—unless my current plan already counts as “creditable coverage,” which I’ll want to double-check.
📝 Keep the Paper Trail
When that time comes, my employer will need to fill out a special form (CMS-L564) verifying that I’ve had ongoing coverage. Medicare wants proof, and I don’t blame them.
I hope this helps someone out there who’s feeling a little overwhelmed by the process. The truth is, turning 65 isn’t about slowing down—for many of us, it’s just a check-in point on a much bigger journey. I still have energy, purpose, and work to do. But I’m grateful for the resources that help us stay healthy, wise, and prepared.
If you’ve already navigated Medicare, I’d love to hear what you learned. And if you’re still figuring it out like I am, maybe we can compare notes over coffee.
Stay encouraged. Stay curious. And may we all live long and prosper. 💫
📖 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
— Isaiah 46:4
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