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Benefits After Becoming Eligible for Medicare or Medicaid

If you are actively working at Northwestern and enrolled in a University health plan, when you turn 65 you may defer enrollment in Medicare Parts A & B until you retire, employment ends, or become ineligible for Northwestern’s health plan. If you are covering your spouse on the health plan, your spouse remains eligible for
the same plans when they turn 65.  They may defer enrollment in Medicare Parts A & B until you retire, employment ends, or become ineligible for Northwestern’s health plan. For domestic partners covered on the plan, check with Medicare for their eligibility to defer enrollment.

If you enroll in Medicare or Medicaid, you may cancel your Northwestern health insurance.  Becoming eligible for Medicare or Medicaid is not in itself a qualifying life event that will allow you to change your benefits. You must have enrolled in Medicare (Part A & B) or Medicaid to make changes to coverage.

Change your health insurance enrollment

You must waive your benefits in myHR within 31 days from when you become eligible for Medicare or Medicaid

You should contact your local Social Security office up to three months prior to turning 65 and enroll in Medicare Part A. Most individuals receive Medicare Part A at no cost, and it will act as a secondary insurance to your group coverage through Northwestern until you retire (if you choose to remain enrolled in the Northwestern medical plan). Your Northwestern health plan will continue to be your Primary health insurance payer while you work at the University.

Please note that individuals enrolled in Medicare parts A or B are NOT eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account.

Loss of Medicare or Medicaid eligibility

If you lose eligibility to Medicare or Medicaid, you may enroll in a Northwestern health insurance plan. You must do so online via myHR within 31 days from when you lose eligibility.