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Who is eligible for Medicare?

Medicare eligibility for people age 65 and older

In most cases, you will become eligible for Medicare when you turn 65.

• If you are 65 years old and collect or qualify to collect Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you are eligible for Medicare.
• If you are 65 years old but do not qualify to collect Social Security our Railroad Retirement yet, you qualify for Medicare if:
  • You are a current US resident and are either
    • a U.S. citizen, or
    • a permanent U.S. resident who has lived in the U.S. for 5 continuous years

Medicare eligibility for people younger than 65

If you are younger than 65, you can be eligible for Medicare if:

• you are disabled and have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for more than 24 months, or
• you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and are receiving SSDI, or
• you have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), and
  • you are getting dialysis treatments or have had a kidney transplant, AND
  • you are eligible to receive SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), or
  • you are eligible to receive Railroad Retirement benefits, or
  • you have enough “work credits” to be considered to be “fully” insured by Social Security

How to enroll in Medicare

Some people are automatically enrolled in Medicare and some people need to sign up.

Automatic

If you are already getting benefits from Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): You will automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A and Part B will start the first day of the month before your birthday.) 

If you are under 65 and have a disability: You will automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits from Social Security or certain benefits from Railroad Retirement for 24 months.

If you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease): You will get Part A and Part B automatically the month your Social Security benefits start.

Sign up

If you are eligible for Medicare but do not qualify for automatic enrollment: You will need to sign up to start receiving Medicare benefits. For example, you need to sign up to start receiving Medicare benefits if:

• you are 65 years old and aren’t collecting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. You should contact Social Security before you turn 65.
• you have End-Stage Renal Disease and want to enroll in Medicare

Visit the Social Security Administration website for more information and to sign up for Medicare benefits.

Don’t forget about signing up for your Part D plan.