Does COBRA Count for Medicare Part B Delay Purposes?
No. COBRA does not count as employer coverage for purposes of delaying Medicare Part B. COBRA is secondary to Medicare, and electing COBRA does not give you a Special Enrollment Period.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I have both COBRA and Medicare?
- Yes, but Medicare pays first and COBRA pays second. COBRA typically pays less when Medicare is primary.
- When does my SEP start — when COBRA ends or employment ends?
- Your SEP starts when your active employment or employer group coverage ends, not when COBRA ends. This is a common and costly mistake.
- Should I take COBRA or just go to Medicare?
- If you're Medicare-eligible, enrolling in Medicare is generally more important than COBRA. Medicare provides more comprehensive primary coverage.