The way that COBRA and Medicare Medicare is the federal government health insurance program that provides health care coverage if you are 65 or older, are under 65 and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, begin receiving SSDI due to ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) no matter your age. You can receive health coverage directly through the federal government (see Original Medicare) or through a private company (see Medicare Advantage). coordinate depends on which form of insurance you have first. While it is possible to get COBRA if you already have Medicare, it is not usually possible to keep COBRA if you have it before you become Medicare-eligible. Specifically, whether you can have both COBRA and Medicare depends on which form of insurance you have first.
- If you have COBRA when you become Medicare-eligible, your COBRA coverage usually ends on the date you get Medicare. You should enroll in
Part B
Part B, also known as medical insurance, is the part of Medicare that covers most medically necessary doctors’ services, preventive care, hospital outpatient care, durable medical equipment (DME), laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health services, and some home health care and ambulance services.
 immediately because you are not entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when COBRA ends. Your spouse and dependents may keep COBRA for up to 36 months, regardless of whether you enroll in Medicare during that time.
- You may be able to keep COBRA coverage for services that Medicare does not cover. For example, if you have COBRA dental insurance, the insurance company that provides your COBRA coverage may allow you to drop your medical coverage but keep paying a  for the dental coverage for as long as you are entitled to COBRA. Contact your plan for more information.
- If you have Medicare Part A Part A, also known as hospital insurance, is the part of Medicare that covers most medically necessary hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, home health care, and hospice care.  or Part B when you become eligible for COBRA, you must be allowed to enroll in COBRA. Medicare is your primary insurance, and COBRA is secondary. You should keep Medicare because it is responsible for paying the majority of your health care costs. COBRA is typically expensive, but it may be helpful if you have high medical expenses and your plan covers your Medicare Cost-sharing Cost-sharing is the portion of medical care costs that you pay yourself, such as a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible, if you have health insurance coverage. See also: Out-of-Pocket Costs.  or offers other needed benefits.
Note: If you are eligible for Medicare due to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), your COBRA coverage is primary during the 30-month coordination period. Be sure to learn about ESRD Medicare rules when making coverage decisions.