Medicare Eligibility
How do I know if I'm eligible for Medicare?
Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you are not 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:
- You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board
- You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them
- You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:
- You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement
- Board disability benefit for 24 months. You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.
While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.
Helpful Links
A Quick Recap
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7-month Initial Enrollment Period
✔ Medicare Part A is free for most people – it’s best to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period
✔ Medicare Part B always has a premium based on income. You can delay enrolling in Part B, depending on your current health coverage, without a Part B penalty.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Still have questions? Feel free to contact us for more information.