Generally the only ways to be eligible for Medicare before age 65 is to:
- Have end-stage renal disease
- Have ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Have a disability and have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months
When is the earliest you can get Medicare?
Jan 01, 2022 · You can sign up between January 1-March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period. Your coverage starts July 1. You might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty, if you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Get details about the late enrollment penalties. Special Situations (Special Enrollment Period)
What is the earliest age you can get Medicare?
Sep 22, 2021 · To receive Medicare coverage before age 65, an age-and-service or disability annuitant must have a period of disability. Special Provision for Occupational Disability Annuitants If you receive an occupational disability annuity and could not meet the disability requirements for a period of disability when your annuity began, you may qualify for early …
Can you get Medicare before 65?
3 rows · Feb 15, 2022 · Learn more about Medicare eligibility before age 65 and what it means for you. In many cases you ...
Will I be automatically enrolled in Medicare at 65?
While 65 has always been Medicare’s magic number, there are a few situations where the Medicare age limit doesn’t apply, and you may be able to get Medicare before 65. You qualify for Medicare regardless of age once you have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 …
Do I Automatically Get Medicare When I Turn 65?
Some people automatically get Medicare at age 65, but those numbers have declined as the Medicare and Social Security ages have continued to drift...
What if I’m Not Automatically Enrolled at 65?
If your Medicare enrollment at 65 is not automatic, but you want to enroll, here are some more magic numbers.
Is Medicare Free at Age 65?
While Medicare Part B has a standard monthly premium, 99 out of 100 people don’t have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A. Still, no part of Medic...
How Much Does Medicare Cost at Age 65?
The standard premium for Part B modestly increases year over year. Part A costs also can increase, including the annual deductible and other coinsu...
Can You Get on Medicare at Age 62?
No, but while the standard age of eligibility remains 65, some call for lowering it. In a recent GoHealth survey, among respondents age 55 and olde...
Can a 55-Year-Old Get Medicare?
While 65 has always been Medicare’s magic number, there are a few situations where the Medicare age limit doesn’t apply, and you may be able to get...
Medicare Eligibility Before Age 65
If you’re under 65 years old, you might be eligible for Medicare: 1. If you receive disability benefits from Social Security or certain disability...
How to Apply For Medicare Part A and Part B Before Age 65
Some people are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare. If you’ve been receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Reti...
Medicare Eligibility For Medicare Advantage (Part C) Before 65
After you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, you may choose to remain with Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) or consider enrollment in...
Reaching age 62 can affect your spouse's Medicare premiums
Although reaching age 62 does not qualify you for Medicare, it can carry some significance for your spouse if they receive Medicare benefits.
Medicare eligibility for people under 62
There are a few exceptions for Medicare age limits that can allow people younger than 65 and under age 62 to enroll in Medicare.
Can a 62 year old get Medicaid?
Yes. Medicaid qualification is based on income, not age. While Medicaid eligibility differs from one state to another, it is typically available to people of lower incomes and resources including pregnant women, the disabled, the elderly and children.
Get answers to your Medicare questions and enroll in a plan
If you have further questions about Medicare eligibility, contact a licensed insurance agent today. A licensed agent can help answer your questions and help you compare Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) that are available where you live.
Key Takeaways
The standard age for Medicare eligibility has been 65 for the entirety of the health insurance program, which debuted in 1965.
Medicare Eligibility Age Chart
Most older adults are familiar with Medicare and its eligibility age of 65. Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B are available based on age or, in some cases, health conditions, including:
Do I Automatically Get Medicare When I Turn 65?
Some people automatically get Medicare at age 65, but those numbers have declined as the Medicare and Social Security ages have continued to drift apart.
Is Medicare Free at Age 65?
While Medicare Part B has a standard monthly premium, 99 out of 100 people don’t have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A. Still, no part of Medicare can genuinely be called “free” because of associated costs you have to pay, like deductibles, coinsurance and copays.
Can You Get on Medicare at Age 62?
No, but while the standard age of eligibility remains 65, some call for lowering it. In a recent GoHealth survey, among respondents age 55 and older who weren’t on Medicare and had heard about proposals to lower the age of eligibility, 64% favored lowering the age.
Full Retirement Age by Year - What to Know
Full retirement age is the age you begin to receive full Social Security benefits. If you start to draw your Social Security benefits before reaching your full retirement age, the payment you receive will be less.
How to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B before age 65
Some people are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare. If you’ve been receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) for 24 months in a row, you will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, when you reach the 25th month.
Medicare eligibility for Medicare Advantage (Part C) before 65
After you’re enrolled in Original Medicare, you may choose to remain with Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) or consider enrollment in a Medicare Advantage plan offered by a private, Medicare-approved insurance company.
Social Security disability
If you’re under age 65 and have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, you qualify for Medicare.
RRB disability
If you receive a disability pension from the RRB and meet certain criteria, you may be eligible for Medicare before age 65.
Specific health conditions
ALS. If you’ve been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, you become immediately eligible for Medicare upon collecting Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits.
Family relationship
Under certain circumstances, and typically following a 24-month waiting period, you may be eligible for Medicare under age 65 based on your relationship with a Medicare recipient, including:
When can I enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan?
The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan may be your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. This period lasts six months and begins the first day of the month in which you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.
How do I enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan if I am under 65?
Federal law doesn’t require insurance companies to sell Medicare Supplement plans to people under 65 and Medicare beneficiaries under 65 generally don’t have Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Periods. If you are under 65 and have Medicare, you can apply for a Medicare Supplement plan at any time.
Are there other times I can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan?
If you’re outside your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period, you may be able to enroll in another Medicare Supplement plan if you have “guaranteed issue” rights. If you have guaranteed issue rights, a plan can’t deny you coverage, refuse to cover your pre-existing conditions, or make you wait for coverage.
