Will I be penalized if I don't have insurance prior to my Medicare coverage going into effect?

I think she is meaning she doesn't qualify for Medicare yet, but will sometime in the future. IOW, she isn't 65 yet. If she doesn't get other insurance to cover her until she is 65 will she be penalized. It is how I understood the question.

I don't think you will be pen b/c the Affordable Care Act does not include Medicare or Medicare supplements.

When does your Medicare go into effect? From what I understand, the date one has before having to be covered is the end of March -- someone, please correct me if I'm wrong. If not covered by then, there is a small penalty that they could charge. I think this year it will be $92.

I don't worry as much about the little things as I do about having insurance. I know that if something happened I would be bankrupted in no time. My insurance money has always been a waste in the past, but it is just money that we have to pay to keep the healthcare wolf away from the bank. To me it is like a payment for peace of mind. I will still go bankrupt if there is a terrible illness. I just won't go there as fast.