Page 18 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Still Working at 65? Here’s How to Handle Medicare Dear Savvy Senior, My wife and I are approaching 65, but I’m still working and have good health coverage through my employer. Do we need to enroll in Medicare at this point? --Almost 65 Dear Almost, If you or your spouse is still working past age 65 and have health insurance through your job, you may be able to delay enrolling in Medicare without a late enrollment penalty. However, the rules depend largely on the size of your employer. First, a quick refresher: Remember that original Medicare has two parts. Part A, which covers hospital care and is premium-free for most people. And Part B, which covers doctor visits, lab tests, and outpatient care and has a monthly premium of $202.90 in 2026. Higher-income individuals (over $109,000) and couples (over $218,000) pay more. If you’re already receiving Social Security, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Parts A and B when you turn 65, and your Medicare card will arrive in the mail. It will include instructions on how to return it if you have employer coverage that allows you to delay Part B. If you’re still working Start by talking with your benefits manager or HR department to understand how your employer insurance works with Medicare. In most cases, it makes sense to enroll in Part A since it’s free. However, if you contribute to a Health Savings Account, enrolling in Part A will stop those contributions. Whether you should enroll in Part B usually depends on your employer’s size. Small employer If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare becomes your primary insurance. In this case, you should enroll in Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period, which lasts seven months: the three months before your 65th birthday, your birthday month, and the three months after. If you aren’t receiving Social Security, you’ll need to apply for Medicare. You can do this online at ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up, by phone at 800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you’ll need to wait for the General Enrollment Period, which runs January 1 through March 31. Coverage begins the first day of the month after you enroll, but a 10 percent penalty is added to your Part B premium for each full year you waited. Signing up on time helps you avoid both coverage gaps and added costs. Large employer If your employer has 20 or more employees, your group health plan remains your primary insurance while you’re actively working. In this case, you generally don’t need to enroll in Part B at 65 if your coverage is adequate. If you do enroll, Medicare will serve as secondary coverage. Once your employment or employer coverage ends, you’ll have an eight-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty. Check drug coverage You should also review your prescription drug coverage. Ask your benefits manager if your employer’s plan is considered “creditable.” If it is, you don’t need to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan. If it isn’t, you should sign up for Part D during your Initial Enrollment Period to avoid a penalty – typically 1 percent of the national average premium for each month you delay. You can compare Part D plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare. Need help? For free guidance, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 877-839-2675 or shiphelp.org. You can also call the Medicare Rights Center helpline at 800-333-4114. Navigating Medicare while you’re still working can be confusing, but a quick check with your employer and a clear understanding of the rules can help you avoid costly mistakes. Taking the time to get it right now will ensure you have the coverage you need, without unnecessary penalties down the road. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Christopher Rosa Tree Warden – City of Malden June 12, 19, 2026 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 12, 2026 BHRC | FROM PAGE 17 Sen. Jason Lewis Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL BAN CANCER-LINKED CHEMICAL FROM IV BAGS (S 3106) – The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, and sent to the House a bill that would ban the use of DEHP, a toxic chemical which is commonly added to plastic intravenous bags and tubing and linked to breast, liver, lung and testicular cancer. Many IV bags currently contain DEHP, which is added to improve the plastic’s flexibility but can pose serious health dangers to patients. “When a patient is in a hospital bed receiving IV therapy, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether the equipment itself is making them sicker,” said Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), the sponsor of the measure. “DEHP is a known carcinogen. Safer alternatives already exist and are being used by major health systems right here in Massachusetts. This bill simply says we are going to catch up with the science. Patients deserve nothing less.” COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGNERS (S 3107) - The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, and sent to the House legislation that would create optional state licensure for commercial interior designers, a step that supporters say would empower smaller designers to bid individually for certain projects rather than having to contract with a larger firm. Currently, smaller interior design operations have to contract with larger firms that have architectural licenses in order to bid on certain projects. “Massachusetts is home to five colleges with nationally accredited interior CITY OF MALDEN Forest Dale Cemetery 150 Forest Street Malden, MA 02148 Telephone: 781-397-7191 / Fax: 781-388-0849 Christopher Rosa., Superintendent of Cemeteries / Tree Warden LEGAL NOTICE CITY OF MALDEN PUBLIC TREE HEARING In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 87, Section 3, notice is herewith given that a public hearing will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, the 22nd day of June 2026 at Malden City Hall Conference Room 105, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts for the purpose of determining if the seven (7) public shade trees shall be removed or remain per the Tree Warden of the City of Malden. The trees are located at or around the address identified below: Address Street 99 CRYSTAL STREET 99 CRYSTAL STREET 205 MAPLEWOOD STREET 551 LYNN STREET 551 LYNN STREET 551 LYNN STREET 306 HIGHLAND AVE. DBH (IN) 22 20 24 6 14 16 3 Common Name HONEYLOCUST HONEYLOCUST HONEYLOCUST BRADFORD PEAR GREEN ASH (DEAD/EAB) GREEN ASH (DEAD/EAB) NORTHERN RED OAK OBJECTIONS TO THE REMOVAL OF ANY TREE(S) MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING BY THE TREE WARDEN AT THE ABOVE LISTED ADDRESS PRIOR TO OR AT THE TREE HEARING. design programs,” said sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “We are training talented professionals and then telling them they cannot fully practice their craft in their own state. This is not right, and [the bill] fixes that. It creates real economic opportunity, especially for women and minority-owned businesses, and it keeps our graduates here where they can grow their careers and contribute to our communities.” “[The] bill is the result of real collaboration,” said Sen. Pavel Payano (D-Lawrence), Senate chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. “Architects, engineers, building officials and interior designers came to the table and worked through the hard conversations. What emerged is a commonsense framework that gives commercial interior BHRC | SEE PAGE 19
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