If you recently became enrolled into Medicare Part A or Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) or you are eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A you are considered to have minimum essential coverage. This means you are no longer eligible for premium tax credits through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace.
If you enrolled in Medicare, you cannot have a health plan through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace. If you currently have Marketplace coverage, you may keep your plan until your Medicare coverage begins. Once you enroll in Medicare, you should terminate your Marketplace coverage to avoid paying full price for your plan, since you will no longer qualify for financial assistance.
However, if you must pay a premium for Medicare Part A, have a qualifying medical condition, and are not yet receiving Social Security Benefits before becoming eligible for Medicare, and you have not yet enrolled into Medicare, you may choose to stay covered through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace.
In most cases, it's to your advantage to sign up for Medicare as soon as you become eligible. Most people have an Initial Enrollment Period that begins three (3) months before their 65th birthday and ends three (3) months after their 65th birthday.
End your Marketplace coverage
Marketplace coverage doesn’t end automatically when Medicare starts. Update your Marketplace application to end Marketplace coverage for those starting Medicare. You can report a Medicare start date on your application up to 3 months before Medicare starts. After you submit your application update, make sure you confirm the plan for others in your household who need to keep their Marketplace coverage.