The answer
Can I delay Medicare past 65?
Yes, you can delay Medicare past 65 without a penalty if you have qualifying coverage, usually active health insurance through a job with 20 or more employees, where you or your spouse still work.
In that case, you can sign up later through a Special Enrollment Period, which gives you 8 months after that employment or coverage ends, whichever comes first, to enroll in Part B (medical) without a late penalty. The 20-employee rule is what decides whether delaying is safe: at smaller employers, Medicare often pays first, so delaying can leave gaps and trigger a penalty. Retiree coverage, COBRA, and marketplace plans do not count as qualifying coverage for delaying. To confirm whether you can safely delay, reach out to a licensed Goodsurance advisor at 1-888-301-8091 (TTY 711), Mon to Fri 8 am to 5 pm PT.