Shifting from Your ACA Marketplace to Medicare

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has brought many questions to business owners and individuals alike. What plan is the best? What kind of healthcare will you qualify for? Will you get to keep your same doctors? For those who are retired or close to retirement, the subject can be even more complicated. When you retire or turn 65, do you have to enroll in a Medicare Plan?

Essentially, yes. Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national, nonprofit advocacy organization, warns that if you don’t enroll in Medicare at the age of 65, “you don’t have primary coverage, which means that you basically don’t have coverage for most of your healthcare needs.”

Many individuals are confused by this, perhaps rightfully so. The fact is, although your health insurance plan bought through an ACA marketplace will not automatically end when you turn 65, its coverage decreases dramatically. The message that Baker and other Medicare professionals are trying to get out to the public is that these individuals who are currently covered by the ACA before turning 65 must enroll in Medicare once they reach that age.

Now, it is important to realize that if you’re 65 or older and are covered by large-employer insurance, this rule doesn’t apply to you; however most people in this situation should at least take Part A, which is hospital insurance. Without this exception however, new Medicare enrollees must apply at least four months after they turn 65, otherwise they’ll have to wait until the next open-enrollment period, with no coverage in the meantime.

Timing is also important when switching from the ACA Marketplace to Medicare coverage; with individuals being warned to take care when they discontinue their exchange coverage as to not leave a gap between that coverage and Medicare enrollment.

The licensed insurance agents at Omaha Insurance Solutions are here to answer any of your questions you may have about Original Medicare, an Omaha Medicare Advantage Plan, and any other Medicare concerns you may have. Please contact us today at (855) 367-3631.

You can also find more information at Medicare.gov.