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A Costly Mistake: Thinking Employer Insurance Is Enough at Age 65
When real estate lawyer Alyne Diamond turned 65, she believed her employer health plan would continue to fully cover her medical needs. But after a serious accident and over $100,000 in medical expenses, she learned the hard way that Medicare had become her primary payer — and she hadn’t enrolled.
As a result, when she needed emergency care again more than a year later, her employer-based UnitedHealthcare plan denied her $12,000 ER bill, triggering a financial nightmare.
Medicare Becomes Primary at 65 — Even With Employer Coverage in Some Cases
Many people assume they can delay Medicare enrollment if they have job-based health insurance. That’s only true if the employer has 20 or more employees. For smaller businesses, like Diamond’s law firm, Medicare typically becomes the primary payer at age 65, and the employer plan becomes secondary.
If you don’t enroll in Medicare when it becomes primary, insurers can retroactively deny claims, claw back payments made to providers, and leave you personally liable for substantial bills — even from years prior.
What Happens When You Don’t Sign Up for Medicare on Time
Diamond’s situation is unfortunately common. After UnitedHealthcare audited her past claims, they determined that Medicare should have been her primary insurance. As a result:
- Current claims were denied
- Past claims were clawed back from providers
- Providers turned to Diamond for repayment — over $25,000 so far
- More bills may still arrive, due to legal timeframes in New York
Her case illustrates how missing Medicare enrollment can trigger years of financial liability, even when you’ve been diligently paying premiums to your employer plan.
COBRA and Small Employer Plans: When Medicare Must Come First
Even if you continue employer coverage after leaving a job through COBRA, or if you’re working past 65 for a small business, Medicare is required to be your primary coverage. If you don’t enroll, you risk being fully responsible for any medical bills — regardless of how much you’ve paid for other coverage.
This also applies to those under 65 who qualify for Medicare due to disability and work at a company with fewer than 100 employees.
Why So Many People Fall Into This Trap
Medicare coordination rules are poorly communicated, and there’s no federal requirement that insurers or employers notify employees about when Medicare becomes the primary payer.
Most people assume their existing insurance continues to work like it always has. But without reading the fine print — often buried in Medicare publications like Medicare & You — many fail to realize they must enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain full coverage.
Advocates Push for Change, But No Systemic Fix Yet
Advocates argue that insurance companies should be required to notify policyholders approaching 65 about potential Medicare conflicts — especially since they already know their customers’ birthdates.
Until that happens, experts strongly recommend:
- Checking employer size to determine who pays first
- Enrolling in Medicare Part A and B on time if Medicare will be primary
- Consulting a Medicare specialist or counselor before turning 65
- Reviewing any employer coverage changes if you’re nearing eligibility
Bottom Line: Don’t Assume You’re Fully Covered
Delaying Medicare enrollment due to job-based coverage can lead to devastating financial consequences if you’re not careful. Whether you work for a small business or are on COBRA, make sure you understand when and how Medicare should step in.
When in doubt, enroll — or get professional advice. Because when it comes to Medicare and insurance coordination, mistakes can be expensive, and the system won’t warn you.
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