Is Marketplace coverage considered minimum essential coverage? If so, do individuals who are enrolled in Marketplace coverage have to switch to Medicare?

Yes, coverage options offered through the Marketplaces are considered “minimum essential coverage”, meaning that they meet the Affordable Care Act’s standards of affordability and comprehensiveness. 

Individuals currently enrolled in Marketplace plans are not required to switch to Medicare when they become eligible, but they may face significant late penalties if they choose to enroll in Medicare later. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that Marketplace enrollees enroll in Medicare when they first become eligible.