Turning 65 is a milestone for anyone, but when there are two of you enjoying this special birthday in the same year, it can be double the fun! Once the celebrations are over, one of the first things on your To Do list may be enrolling for Medicare.
Do couples have anything special they need to consider when applying for Medicare? Well, the first thing you need to know is that there is no family coverage for Medicare. That means, you are both going to be considered an individual when it comes to Medicare coverage. There are slightly different considerations for each type of Medicare plan. We will review them below.
Medicare Part B
When it comes to Part B, because you are each treated as an individual, you are each going to have to pay for your own part B. There are no family discounts or anything of that sort for Part B.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Now, when it comes to Medicare Advantage plans, there is good news here. Because you are treated as individuals, you may each choose your own plan! Both you and your spouse likely have different doctors and take different prescriptions, which means that one Medicare Advantage Plan may work better for one of you and another may work better for the other. In this case being treated as individuals is an advantage. It’s actually very common for couples to choose different Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare Supplements
Medicare Supplements is the only kind of plan where couples might have a little bit of an advantage cost-wise. Several carriers will give you a household discount if you live with somebody over a certain age or you’re married to someone in the household. Sometimes your spouse is required to enroll with the same company, but sometimes not. So, if you’re shopping for Medicare supplement plans, make sure you take that into consideration and you might be able to get a little bit of savings.
If you have any questions about shopping for Medicare as a couple, feel free to reach out. We are always eager to help! If you’ve had a great experience with Acuity Health Advisors, we encourage you to tell your friends or share this blog with your friends who are turning 65.