Can I apply for Medicare Part A only first, then Social Security later to avoid automatic Part B enrollment?

Yes, your two-step approach can work! I did exactly this last year. I applied for just Medicare Part A when I turned 65 (still working with employer coverage), and I got my Medicare card showing only Part A enrollment. Then about 8 months later, I applied for Social Security retirement benefits. They did initially try to enroll me in Part B, but because I already had an established Medicare record showing Part A only, it was easier to explain I wanted to maintain my Part A only status. Make sure you complete form CMS-L564 ("Request for Employment Information") signed by your employer when you initially decline Part B to document your employer coverage. Keep a copy of everything!

my sister tried to do this and ended up with a huge mess!! she got part A then when she filed for SS they STILL enroled her in part B even tho she told them not to and she had to pay for 2 months of it before they fixed it!! the SSA people told her she should have gone to the office in person instead of doing it online!!

Your understanding is partially correct, but let me clarify a few technical points about Medicare enrollment and Social Security: 1. When you apply for Social Security benefits at or after age 65, you are automatically enrolled in BOTH Medicare Part A and Part B if you aren't already enrolled in Medicare. 2. However, if you already have an established Medicare record (Part A only in your case), the system should recognize this when you later apply for Social Security. 3. The proper way to decline Part B due to current employer coverage is using Form CMS-1763 (Medicare Part B General Enrollment) along with Form CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information) that your employer must complete to verify your coverage. 4. When you later lose your employer coverage, you'll qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Part B without penalties. Your two-step approach is sound from a procedural perspective, but be prepared to clarify your situation if there's confusion in the system.

I think ur overthinking this tbh. Just call them and tell them what u want. Thats what I did. No big deal.

I went through this exact situation last year! Your plan should work, but there's one thing to watch out for: even if you already have Medicare Part A, when you apply for Social Security benefits, the system might STILL try to automatically enroll you in Part B. The key is to immediately contact them if this happens. I had to fill out Form CMS-1763 to disenroll from Part B after they automatically enrolled me. It was annoying but fixable.

If you're having trouble reaching someone at Social Security to get this sorted out, I highly recommend using the Claimyr service (claimyr.com). They can get you connected to a live SSA agent usually within 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. I used it when I needed to deal with a similar Medicare enrollment issue and got everything sorted out in one call. Saved me so much frustration compared to my previous attempts trying to reach someone.

The WHOLE Medicare system is designed to TRAP you into paying for Part B!!!! I went through this NIGHTMARE last year and even though I had employer coverage they STILL forced me to pay for 3 months of Part B before they finally fixed it. And don't even get me started on how they deducted the premiums directly from my SS payment without my permission!!! The system is BROKEN!!!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! From what I'm gathering, my two-step approach could work, but I need to: 1. Get the right forms (CMS-L564 from my employer and possibly CMS-1763) when initially declining Part B 2. Keep documentation of everything 3. Be prepared to act quickly if they still try to automatically enroll me in Part B when I apply for Social Security I think I'll go ahead with applying for just Medicare Part A now, and then I'll apply for Social Security in person at my local office next year rather than doing it online. That way I can make it very clear I want to maintain my Part A only status. I appreciate all the shared experiences - it really helps to know what to expect!

Just wanted to add one more consideration from my experience - make sure to check if your employer health plan is considered "creditable coverage" for Medicare purposes. Most employer plans are, but it's worth confirming with your HR department. You'll need this documentation not just for declining Part B now, but also later when you do want to enroll during your Special Enrollment Period after you retire. Having that creditable coverage letter from your employer will protect you from late enrollment penalties when you eventually do sign up for Part B. Also, don't forget that you have 8 months after your employment/group coverage ends to enroll in Part B without penalties, so there's no rush once you do retire at 67.

One thing that helped me when I went through this process was keeping a detailed timeline of all my interactions with Medicare and SSA. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, who I spoke with, reference numbers, and what was discussed. When I later applied for Social Security and they tried to auto-enroll me in Part B (despite already having Part A only), I was able to reference my previous conversations and documentation. The representative was able to see the pattern of my intentional Part A-only enrollment and it made resolving the issue much smoother. Also, if you do end up needing to contact them multiple times, ask for reference numbers for each call - it really helps when the next person can look up your previous interactions in their system.

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 65 next month and planning to work until 67 with good employer coverage. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! One question I have: when you apply for Medicare Part A initially, do they ask why you're not enrolling in Part B, or do you just simply not check that box on the application? I want to make sure I handle the initial application correctly to avoid any confusion later. Also, has anyone had experience with how this affects your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) - do you still receive those with just Part A coverage? I'm trying to understand all the administrative aspects before I start this process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find in the official Medicare handbooks!

I'm a Medicare enrollment specialist and wanted to add some clarity to this excellent discussion. Your two-step approach is definitely feasible, but here are some key points to ensure success: 1. **Initial Medicare Application**: When applying for Part A only, you'll complete Form CMS-40B. You can decline Part B by checking the appropriate box and selecting "I have group health plan coverage" as your reason. 2. **Documentation**: Get Form CMS-L564 completed by your employer NOW, even before you apply. This creates a paper trail showing your employer coverage was in effect when you declined Part B. 3. **Special Enrollment Rights**: Since you're declining Part B due to active employment, you'll have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period that begins the month after your employment OR group coverage ends (whichever comes first). 4. **Social Security Application Strategy**: When you apply for SS benefits later, bring copies of: your Medicare card showing Part A only, your completed CMS-L564, and a letter from your employer confirming your current group coverage. This documentation package will make it much easier for the SS representative to understand your situation. 5. **Pro tip**: Consider calling 1-800-MEDICARE about 2-3 weeks before your SS application to put a note in your Medicare file explaining your Part A-only status and intention to maintain it until employment ends. This approach works well when properly documented from the start!