The number of working Americans age 65 and older dropped by 1.1 million during the first three months of the pandemic and has been slower to recover than other age groups. Even so, more than 10.8 million workers are eligible for Medicare, and the number is likely to grow as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day until 2030.1–2
Some employers — especially small businesses — may require employees or covered spouses to enroll in Medicare when they are eligible in order to retain their employer-sponsored health insurance. But many workers who are eligible for both types of coverage can choose one or the other, or both. To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand an array of rules and other considerations regarding costs and coverage.
