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Seniors Guide republished the second part of a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance report listing six additional Medicare mistakes, including missed enrollment windows and misunderstanding retiree or COBRA coverage. It also describes how income from two years earlier can affect Medicare premiums; several figures in the report are for 2026.
Seniors Guide has published the second part of a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance report on common Medicare mistakes, focusing on six risks involving enrollment deadlines, insurance coordination and income-based premium surcharges. The report says people who miss applicable enrollment windows or misunderstand which coverage pays first could face gaps in coverage, higher out-of-pocket costs or late-enrollment penalties.
People already receiving Social Security benefits are generally enrolled automatically in Medicare Part A and Part B when they turn 65, according to the report. Those who are not receiving Social Security generally need to apply themselves. The initial enrollment window spans seven months: it begins three months before the month a person turns 65 and ends three months afterward. The report says people may be able to delay Part B when they or a spouse has qualifying coverage through a current employer.
That exception does not generally apply to retiree insurance or COBRA, the report says. After age 65, Medicare is usually primary unless the person or spouse has coverage through a current employer with at least 20 employees. Someone relying on retiree or COBRA coverage instead of enrolling in Part B may face a coverage gap and a late-enrollment penalty. The report describes the Part B penalty as 10% of the current premium for each full year a person could have had Part B but did not.
People with qualifying current-employer coverage who leave work or lose that health plan generally have an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Part B, according to the report. It also warns that Medicare enrollment can affect health savings account contributions: a person enrolled in Medicare cannot contribute to an HSA, and the report flags a six-month lookback rule when enrollment begins. It advises checking individual circumstances with Social Security and an employer.
Enrollment Choices Can Raise Costs
The report’s central point is that the type of insurance matters as much as having coverage. A person may have an insurance card through a former employer or COBRA and still need Medicare to serve as primary coverage. Misreading that distinction can mean bills are not paid as expected, while missing an enrollment deadline can lead to a delayed start or continuing penalties.
Financial decisions can also affect premiums. The report gives a 2026 standard Part B premium of $202.90 per month. It says people above income thresholds may owe an income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA, for Part B and Part D. For 2026, the report lists thresholds based on 2024 adjusted gross income: more than $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers. It says the additional monthly Part B charge ranges from $81 to $443.90, while the Part D surcharge ranges from $14.50 to $91.
Because the surcharge uses tax information from two years earlier, a financial move made before Medicare enrollment can affect later premiums. The report names large withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts and conversions from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA as actions that may raise adjusted gross income. The figures and thresholds are time-specific; readers should verify current amounts with official agencies before making decisions.
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How Enrollment Windows Work
The article is presented as Part II of a two-part series. It says the preceding installment covered five other Medicare mistakes; this installment addresses six more. The supplied report text details enrollment at 65, the treatment of retiree and COBRA coverage, the Part B deadline after employment ends, and income-related premium costs and appeals.
The report says a person with qualifying coverage through a current employer may use a special enrollment period after that coverage or employment ends. It describes the eight-month window as starting when the person or spouse stops working, even if group coverage continues, or when the group health plan ends while work continues. The report says coverage typically begins the month after sign-up. Its text also refers to appealing a surcharge when income falls after retirement, but the supplied material ends before giving the full explanation of that process.
Individual Coverage Details Still Matter
The supplied report material is incomplete: it begins describing an appeal of an income surcharge after retirement but cuts off before listing the full eligibility rules or steps. It also does not provide the two remaining mistake headings in the six-item list. The six-item framing is stated in the source, but the available text does not support filling in those missing details.
Whether someone can delay Part B without a penalty depends on their specific coverage and circumstances. The report’s summary does not establish eligibility for every employer plan, and its premium figures apply to 2026. Readers should confirm enrollment dates, coverage coordination, current premiums and any appeal options with Social Security, Medicare or a qualified benefits adviser.
Check Dates Before Coverage Changes
People approaching age 65 or leaving a job should confirm whether their insurance qualifies as current-employer coverage and identify the applicable Medicare enrollment deadline. The report points readers to the Social Security Administration’s information on applying for Medicare only. Those considering retirement-account withdrawals or Roth conversions can compare their expected income with the relevant IRMAA thresholds, while recognizing that the thresholds and premiums can change each year.
For anyone whose income has fallen after retirement, the next step is to ask Social Security whether the change qualifies for a surcharge review and what documentation is required. The source material does not state a specific date for a follow-up article or provide a complete appeal procedure.
Key Questions
Do people have to enroll in Medicare at 65?
Not everyone has the same enrollment path. The report says people already receiving Social Security are generally enrolled automatically in Parts A and B, while others generally need to apply. Qualifying current-employer coverage may allow some people to delay Part B; they should verify their situation and deadlines before doing so.
Does COBRA coverage let someone delay Medicare Part B?
The report says COBRA is generally not treated like coverage through a current employer for this purpose. After age 65, Medicare is usually primary, so a person relying on COBRA may need to enroll in Part B to avoid a coverage gap or late penalty. Individual circumstances should be checked with Medicare or Social Security.
How long is the Part B special enrollment period after leaving a job?
The report describes an eight-month special enrollment period tied to the end of work or qualifying group health coverage. It says people may enroll within eight months after they or their spouse stops working, even if the plan continues, or after the group plan ends while work continues.
Why can a retirement-account move affect Medicare premiums?
The report says income-related Part B and Part D surcharges are based on tax information from two years earlier. A large withdrawal or Roth conversion could raise adjusted gross income and affect a later premium calculation. The 2026 figures cited in the report use 2024 income.
Source: rss
