EE eligible for Medicare

[Guest Isadora]

I work for a large employer that offers a group health insurance plan that would be primary to Medicare. We have an elderly worker (77 years old who worked for us for 41 years) who does not wish to participate, but wants to go on Medicare. Does anyone know what happens with Medicare if they are eligible to participate in our plan and choose not to participate? I have searched CMS website and the web looking for what happens if the employee chooses not to join the health plan. Is she still eligible for Medicare? Thanks for your time. All leads welcome!

[Mary C]

If they voluntarily choose to opt out of the employer's health care plan, nothing happens. The employer, however, cannot offer any incentives for a Medicare eligible employee to opt out of the group health care plan. Medicare will become primary coverage. If the employee is not already enrolled in Part B, they have a special eleciton period in which they can enroll and avoid the late enrollment penalty.

[MARYMM]

If they voluntarily choose to opt out of the employer's health care plan, nothing happens. The employer, however, cannot offer any incentives for a Medicare eligible employee to opt out of the group health care plan. Medicare will become primary coverage. If the employee is not already enrolled in Part B, they have a special eleciton period in which they can enroll and avoid the late enrollment penalty.

Also, the employer cannot provide a Medigap coverage. The employee would be own their own for that