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A Seniors Guide article, summarizing Part II of a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance series, lists six additional Medicare mistakes that can lead to coverage gaps, late penalties or higher premiums. The supplied material details enrollment timing, employer coverage, HSAs and 2026 income-related surcharges, but ends before explaining all six mistakes.
Seniors Guide has published Part II of a report on Medicare mistakes, outlining six additional decisions that may expose beneficiaries to coverage gaps, late-enrollment penalties or higher premiums. The report, based on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, focuses on enrollment deadlines, the limits of retiree and COBRA coverage, health savings accounts and income-related surcharges.
The report says people who are not already receiving Social Security benefits generally need to take action to enroll in Medicare at 65. It describes a seven-month initial enrollment period, beginning three months before the month of a person’s 65th birthday and ending three months afterward. People with qualifying coverage through a current employer may be able to delay Part B, but the report says employer size and the terms of the coverage matter. People working for employers with fewer than 20 employees should ask whether Medicare needs to become their primary coverage.
The article warns that retiree coverage and COBRA are not treated like health insurance from a current employer when determining whether someone can delay Part B without consequences. It also describes an eight-month special enrollment period after employment or qualifying group coverage ends for people who had coverage through an employer with at least 20 employees. Missing applicable deadlines can mean a coverage gap, a wait for another enrollment period or a Part B late penalty, according to the report.
For 2026, the source lists the standard Part B premium as $202.90 a month. It says people whose 2024 adjusted gross income exceeded $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers may owe an income-related surcharge. The reported Part B surcharge ranges from $81 to $443.90 monthly, while the Part D surcharge ranges from $14.50 to $91 monthly. The Social Security Administration bases these surcharges on tax information from two years earlier, the article says.
How Timing Can Affect Medicare Costs
Medicare enrollment choices can affect both access to coverage and household costs. A person who wrongly assumes that COBRA or retiree insurance lets them postpone Part B may face a gap or a late-enrollment penalty, while someone who misses a special enrollment window may need to wait for another opportunity to enroll. The report says the Part B penalty can add 10% of the current premium for each year a person was eligible but did not enroll, and can continue for as long as the person has Part B.
Income-related surcharges also make tax and retirement decisions relevant to Medicare premiums. The article notes that Roth conversions or large withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts may raise adjusted gross income and affect later premiums. These are general cautions, not personalized financial advice: individual coverage, income and enrollment circumstances determine how the rules apply.
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Enrollment Rules Behind the Warnings
The supplied article calls this the second part of a two-part series. Part I, according to the source, covered five common Medicare mistakes; Part II presents six more. The material provided describes five topics: signing up at 65, relying on retiree or COBRA coverage instead of Part B, missing the deadline after leaving work, making financial moves that raise income, and appealing a surcharge after retirement. It does not include the complete sixth item.
The report distinguishes coverage from a current employer from other employer-related plans. It also cautions that enrolling in Medicare Part A can affect a person’s ability to contribute to a health savings account. The article says HSA contributors should account for a six-month lookback rule when enrolling in Medicare, but advises readers to consult Social Security information for enrollment details.
““You have a seven-month window to sign up” around your 65th birthday.”
— Seniors Guide, summarizing Medicare enrollment guidance
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Details Missing From the Supplied Report
The source text provided ends partway through its discussion of appealing a high-income surcharge after retirement. Although it says Part II covers six mistakes, the complete sixth item and the rest of the appeal guidance are not included. The source’s publication date is also absent, so the 2026 figures are reported as stated in the material rather than independently verified here. Readers’ eligibility and costs depend on their circumstances and the applicable official rules.
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Check Deadlines and Official Guidance
People approaching 65, leaving a job or changing coverage should check their enrollment window and confirm whether their plan is based on current employment. The report points readers to the Social Security Administration’s information on applying for Medicare. Anyone weighing HSA contributions, retirement-account withdrawals, a Roth conversion or an appeal of an income surcharge should verify current rules with the relevant agency and seek qualified tax or financial guidance before acting.
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Key Questions
When is the initial Medicare enrollment window?
The report describes a seven-month window: three months before the month you turn 65, the birthday month itself and three months afterward. People already receiving Social Security benefits may be enrolled automatically in Parts A and B, while others generally need to apply.
Can COBRA or retiree coverage let someone delay Part B?
According to the report, COBRA and retiree coverage are not treated as coverage through a current employer for this purpose. Delaying Part B may create a coverage gap or penalty. Confirm how your specific plan interacts with Medicare before deciding.
How long is the special enrollment period after leaving work?
The article says eligible people with coverage through an employer with at least 20 employees generally have eight months after employment or qualifying group coverage ends to enroll in Part B. It describes the period as available after either event, even if the other continues.
What income figures does the report give for 2026 surcharges?
For 2026, it lists thresholds based on 2024 adjusted gross income: more than $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers. It reports that Part B and Part D surcharges vary by income level. Check official current figures before making decisions.
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