Who this page is for
This page is for people who have a Marketplace plan now and:
- Are turning 65 soon, or
- Are under 65 and getting Medicare because of a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD, permanent kidney failure), or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).
It also helps if you share a Marketplace plan with a spouse or family member who is moving to Medicare.
Still working and covered by a job-based plan? Different rules apply to you. Ask your employer's benefits office or Social Security before you delay Medicare.
Family members still on the Marketplace plan
Medicare only covers the person who has it. Your spouse or children don't get Medicare through you.
- Family members who aren't eligible for Medicare can stay on the Marketplace plan. When you update your Marketplace application, remove only the person moving to Medicare.
- Their premium tax credit may change. It's based on household income and the plan they keep, so check the new amount.
- Make sure their plan stays active. After you update the application, confirm the plan for everyone who is staying.
- Report other changes, such as income, during the year to avoid a big tax bill.
If your spouse will turn 65 later, they'll have their own Initial Enrollment Period. They'll need to plan their own move from the Marketplace to Medicare.
Free, official Medicare resources
- Medicare: Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Social Security: SSA.gov/medicare or 1-800-772-1213, TTY 1-800-325-0778.
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov or 1-800-318-2596, TTY 1-855-889-4325.
- SHIP (free local counseling): shiphelp.org.
Medicare topics
When to sign up
Your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, when Medicare coverage starts, automatic enrollment and premium-free vs paid Part A.
Read more
Ending your Marketplace plan
Step-by-step: end your Marketplace (Obamacare) plan the day before Medicare starts, and what happens to your premium tax credit.
Read more
Part B and late penalties
Why a Marketplace plan doesn’t let you delay Part B, how the Part B late penalty works, and 2026 Part B costs.
Read more
Your Medicare choices
Compare Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D against Medicare Advantage (Part C), and when you can make changes later.
Read more
Help with costs
Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help for Part D and Medicaid can lower what you pay for Medicare if your income is limited.
Read more
Medicare under 65
How Medicare works if you’re under 65 because of a disability, ALS or End-Stage Renal Disease, and what to do with your Marketplace plan.
Read more
Parts of Medicare
What Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C (Medicare Advantage), Part D and Medigap cover, what they cost in 2026, and how they fit together.
Read more
Already on Medicare: plan review
Already 65 or on Medicare? Review your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan each year. Learn the enrollment dates and what to check with a licensed agent.
Read more
Frequently asked questions
Does my Marketplace plan end automatically when I get Medicare?
No. You have to end it yourself. On HealthCare.gov, you can report your Medicare start date up to 3 months early and pick an end date. End your Marketplace coverage on the last day before Medicare starts, so you don't have a gap or pay for both. If your state runs its own Marketplace, contact it directly.
Can I keep my Marketplace plan instead of signing up for Medicare?
In most cases, it doesn't make sense to. Once you're eligible for premium-free Part A, you can't get a premium tax credit for a Marketplace plan, so you'd pay full price. Waiting to sign up for Part B can also mean a late penalty that lasts as long as you have Part B. If you have to pay a premium for Part A, you can choose Medicare or a Marketplace plan.
Does a Marketplace plan let me delay Part B without a penalty?
No. Only health coverage from a current job (yours or your spouse's) lets most people delay Part B without a penalty. A Marketplace plan doesn't count. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you'll usually have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) and may pay a late penalty.
When will my Medicare coverage start?
It depends on when you sign up. If you sign up in the 3 months before the month you turn 65, coverage starts the first day of your birthday month. If you sign up in your birthday month or the 3 months after, coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up. If your birthday is on the 1st, your coverage can start a month earlier.
Can my spouse stay on our Marketplace plan after I get Medicare?
Yes. A spouse or child who isn't eligible for Medicare can keep the Marketplace plan. Update your Marketplace application to remove only the person moving to Medicare, then confirm the plan for everyone who is staying. Their premium tax credit may change.
What does Part B cost in 2027?
The 2027 Part B premium and deductible haven't been announced yet. Medicare usually announces them in the fall. In 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the deductible is $283. Some people pay more because of higher income or a late enrollment penalty.
Should I choose Original Medicare with Medigap, or Medicare Advantage?
It depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget and how you like to get care. Original Medicare lets you see any provider that takes Medicare, and Medigap helps with costs it doesn't cover. Medicare Advantage plans often use networks, have a yearly limit on what you pay, and may include extra benefits. You can compare plans at Medicare.gov or get free, unbiased counseling from your SHIP.
Medicare and Marketplace rules can change. Check Medicare.gov, SSA.gov or HealthCare.gov for the latest rules.
ObamaCare-Enroll.org is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.