If you are still working when you turn 65 years old and your employer is still providing you with health insurance, you need to determine if you should join Medicare. When you hit the age of 65, you need to either be covered by Medicare or you need to be covered by a health plan that meets specific requirements. 

Your Employer Has to Provide Benefits to a Specific Number of People 

First, your employer has to provide coverage for a specific number of people in order to meet the Medicare requirements of being an approved health plan. Your employer needs to provide insurance for at least 20 people in order for your employer's health insurance plan to be a valid replacement for Medicare. If you are disabled and working, your employer has to offer insurance to at least 100 people. If you work for a small business that does not offer plans for enough employess to meet these requirements, you need to get on Medicare. 

Your Employer Has to Have a Creditable Plan 

Second, your employer has to have a creditable plan. A creditable plan refers to the prescription coverage that the plan offers. The prescription drug coverage has to equal the level of prescription drug coverage that one is offered under Medicare. It has to be equal to or better than what you can get through a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan; if it is not, the plan is not creditable, and you run the risk of a lifetime of paying higher Medicare fees if you don't get at least basic Medicare coverage. 

Your employer has to provide you with a formal letter that lets you know if they meet this requirement. If your employer doesn't meet this requirement, you will need Medicare coverage. 

Your Employer May Require You to Join Parts of Medicare 

Next, your employer may have their own rules for your coverage. Your employer may actually require you to join Medicare, or at least join Medicare Parts A and Parts B. Many employers do this as a cost-saving measure, and other employers do this in order to ensure that you have the right level of coverage.

When it comes to joining Medicare when you are 65 years old and you are still working, you need to look over your employer's plan really carefully. You need to make sure that your employer provides insurance coverage that meets the state's requirements before you pass-up on your opportunity to sign-up for Medicare coverage. Contact a medicare agent in your area to learn more.