Is insurance required when collecting Social Security benefits before Medicare eligibility?

No, the Social Security Administration does not require you to have health insurance to receive retirement benefits. These are completely separate programs. You can collect your Social Security retirement benefits without any health insurance coverage at all. The only connection between health insurance and Social Security is that Medicare eligibility begins at 65 for most people, and Medicare premiums are often deducted from Social Security payments once you're enrolled.

Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. Those insurance quotes were making me second-guess my decision to file early. Good to know I can still receive my benefits while I figure out the health insurance situation separately.

ur good man no insurance needed for SS checks! i went 2 years with no insurance between my job and medicare kicking in. SS dont care about that stuff

But isn't there still a tax penalty if you don't have health insurance? I thought that was still a thing. My brother got hit with some fee when he didn't have coverage for like 4 months last year!

The previous responses are correct that Social Security benefits don't require health insurance. However, I want to address the confusion about tax penalties mentioned above. The federal penalty for not having health insurance (the \

This is incredibly helpful information! I'm in Florida, so sounds like I won't face any state penalties. I'll definitely check healthcare.gov - my income will drop quite a bit once I stop working, so maybe I can get something affordable. Thanks!

I was in almost EXACTLY your situation last year!!! Filed for SS at 62 and had the same question. No insurance needed for benefits BUT consider this: if you end up in hospital with NO insurance, they can't take your SS benefits to pay medical bills!!! Social Security benefits are protected from most creditors. Just something to think about...

Everyone saying you don't need insurance is right but my cousin works at SS office and said most people don't realize you should tell them if you DO have insurance so they can coordinate your Medicare right when you turn 65. Something about automatic enrollment. Ask about that when you apply.

That's not quite accurate. What your cousin might be referring to is that if you're already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. You don't need to notify them about current insurance for this to happen. However, if you have creditable coverage (like employer insurance) when you turn 65, you may want to decline Part B enrollment to avoid paying premiums for coverage you don't need. You'd need to proactively do this by following the instructions that come with your Medicare card.

The frustration with those pre-Medicare insurance costs is so real! I waited MONTHS to reach someone at Social Security to ask health insurance questions when I was applying. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUThe agent confirmed what others here said - no insurance requirement for SS benefits. But they also told me about the special enrollment periods for Medicare later on that I would have missed otherwise. Definitely worth talking to an actual SSA rep before filing.

Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to reach someone at SSA for days. I'll check out that service - getting definitive answers from an actual agent would set my mind at ease before I file.

Just wanted 2 add something - when i got my first SS check they sent this big packet of papers with it and it had info about signing up for health insurance. think they call it

Okay but I'm still SUPER confused about all this... my sister said her Social Security got REDUCED because she didn't sign up for Medicare on time??? She had to pay some kind of penalty? And now I'm reading all these different things and don't know what to believe!!!!!

What you're describing is different. Your sister likely faced late enrollment penalties for Medicare, which can happen if you don't sign up during your initial enrollment period (usually around your 65th birthday) and don't have other qualifying coverage. These penalties increase your Medicare premiums when you do enroll, effectively reducing your net Social Security payment if the premiums are deducted from it.For the original poster who's only 63, this isn't relevant yet. They have no obligation to have any insurance to receive Social Security retirement benefits now. They'll need to address Medicare enrollment when they approach 65.

My sister didn't have insurance between retiring at 63 and Medicare at 65. She got a NASTY case of pneumonia that cost her $37,000!!! Sometimes the peace of mind is worth the premium...

I completely understand your confusion - I went through this exact same situation when I retired at 64! The good news is that everyone here is correct: Social Security does NOT require health insurance to receive your retirement benefits. They're completely separate systems. However, I'd strongly recommend exploring your options on healthcare.gov since your income will be lower. You might qualify for premium tax credits that could make coverage much more affordable than those $675/month quotes you're getting. Also, look into short-term medical plans or healthcare sharing ministries as potential bridge options until Medicare kicks in at 65. One last tip: when you do file for Social Security, ask them about your Medicare enrollment timeline. You'll want to understand your Initial Enrollment Period so you don't accidentally face late enrollment penalties later. Good luck with your application!