
What is the initial enrollment period for Medicare?
Generally, Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, younger people with disabilities and people with End Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant). Medicare has two parts, Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medicare Insurance). You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and …
How to verify Medicare eligibility?
Jan 01, 2022 · Generally, when you turn 65. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. My birthday is on the first of the month. Avoid the penalty.
When is the best time to apply for Medicare?
Jan 01, 2022 · Generally, you’re first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. (You may be eligible for Medicare earlier, if you get disability benefits from Social Security or …
How to get help when you have problems with Medicare?
The age for Medicare is 65. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you usually will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you are eligible for Medicare because of age. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance and Medicare Part B is medical insurance. Together these are called “Original Medicare.”

Your first chance to sign up (Initial Enrollment Period)
Generally, when you turn 65. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65.
Between January 1-March 31 each year (General Enrollment Period)
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.
Special Situations (Special Enrollment Period)
There are certain situations when you can sign up for Part B (and Premium-Part A) during a Special Enrollment Period without paying a late enrollment penalty. A Special Enrollment Period is only available for a limited time.
Joining a plan
A type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually also includes drug coverage (Part D).
Answer a few questions to find out
These questions don’t apply if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Do you have health insurance now?
Are you or your spouse still working for the employer that provides your health insurance coverage?
How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
The age for Medicare is 65. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you usually will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you are eligible for Medicare because of age. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance and Medicare Part B is medical insurance. Together these are called “Original Medicare.” If you want additional coverage, you may be able to get plans from private insurance companies including: 1 Medicare Part D to cover prescription drugs 2 Medicare Advantage to cover routine dental, routine vision, prescription drugs and more* 3 Medicare Supplement to cover Medicare out-of-pocket costs such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles, depending on the Medicare Supplement plan.
What is Medicare for people 65 and over?
Find affordable Medicare plans. Medicare is the government health insurance program for people 65 and over and people with permanent disabilities. When you are eligible for Medicare depends mostly on: when your disability benefits started.
What is Medicare for disabled people?
Medicare is the government health insurance program for people 65 and over and people with permanent disabilities. When you are eligible for Medicare depends mostly on: when your disability benefits started.
What is Medicare for 65?
Medicare is the government health insurance program for people 65 and over and people with permanent disabilities. When you are eligible for Medicare depends mostly on: when your birthday is. when your disability benefits started.
What is the age limit for Medicare?
The age for Medicare is 65. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you usually will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you are eligible for Medicare because of age. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance and Medicare Part B is medical insurance. Together these are called “Original Medicare.”.
What is Original Medicare?
Together these are called “Original Medicare.”. If you want additional coverage, you may be able to get plans from private insurance companies including: Medicare Part D to cover prescription drugs. Medicare Advantage to cover routine dental, routine vision, prescription drugs and more*.
How long does Medicare Part D last?
You are first eligible for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage during your Initial Enrollment Period. This is a 7-month period that begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and continues for three months after you turn 65.
Key Takeaways
The standard age for Medicare eligibility#N#Some health plans require you to meet minimum requirements before you can enroll.#N#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 long does it take to get Medicare if you are 65?
For someone under age 65 who becomes entitled to Medicare based on disability, entitlement begins with the 25 th month of disability benefit entitlement.
How long do you have to be on Medicare if you are disabled?
Disabled individuals are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B after they have received disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months. NOTE: In most cases, if someone does not enroll in Part B or premium Part A when first eligible, they will have to pay a late enrollment penalty.
What is MEC in Medicare?
Medicare and Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) Medicare Part A counts as minimum essential coverage and satisfies the law that requires people to have health coverage. For additional information about minimum essential coverage (MEC) for people with Medicare, go to our Medicare & Marketplace page.
What is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A counts as minimum essential coverage and satisfies the law that requires people to have health coverage. For additional information about minimum essential coverage (MEC) for people with Medicare, go to our Medicare & Marketplace page.
How long does Part A coverage last?
If the application is filed more than 6 months after turning age 65, Part A coverage will be retroactive for 6 months. NOTE: For an individual whose 65th birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A coverage begins on the first day of the month preceding their birth month.
When does Part A start?
NOTE: For an individual whose 65th birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A coverage begins on the first day of the month preceding their birth month. For example, if an individual's birthday is on December 1, Part A begins on November 1.
Do you have to pay Part A and Part B?
Also enroll in or already have Part B. To keep premium Part A, the person must continue to pay all monthly premiums and stay enrolled in Part B. This means that the person must pay both the premiums for Part B and premium Part A timely to keep this coverage. Premium Part A coverage begins prospectively, based on the enrollment period ...
