• Home
• Original vs. Advantage
• What is Covered
• What Medicare Costs
• Medicare Savings Programs
• Who is Eligible

Who is eligible for Medicare?

Parts A and B:

You are eligible for Medicare Parts A and B if you are a U.S. citizen or have been a permanent legal resident for five continuous years AND one or more of these describes you:

• You are 65 years or older and eligible to receive Social Security; OR
• You are under 65, permanently disabled, and have received Social Security disability insurance payments for at least 2 years; OR
• You get continuing dialysis for end-stage renal disease (kidney failure) or need a kidney transplant; OR
• You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS-Lou Gehrig's disease).

When to enroll

Most people are eligible to enroll in Medicare at age 65.  This is true even if your full Social Security benefits don’t begin until later. 

If you are already enrolled in Social Security when you turn 65, you will be enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically.  You don’t need to do anything.  However, if you are not yet getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, then you must apply for Medicare.  There are 3 times when you can sign up:

• Initial enrollment period:  You can join 3 months before your 65^th birthday, the month of your 65^th birthday and the 3 months after.  
• General enrollment period:  If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period (or Special Enrollment Period, if that applies), you can sign up for Medicare Part B between January 1 and March 31 of each year.  Your Medicare coverage would then begin on July 1 of the year you sign up.
  
  However, there is a penalty for signing up late for Part B.  Your monthly premium goes up 10% for each full 12 month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t take it, except in special cases.  You will pay this higher premium as long as you have Medicare Part B.
• Special enrollment period:  If you were working when you turned 65 and had health care coverage through your employer or union, you may have decided to wait to sign up for Medicare Part B.  If you lose your health care coverage (because you retire or lose your job), you can sign up for Part B later on. As long as you sign up for Part B in the 8 months after the health coverage you had from your job or your union ends, you will not have to pay a penalty.    
  
  

Part D:

You are eligible for Part D, the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, if

• You have or are eligible for Medicare Part A or Part B.

There is no screening for pre-existing conditions or high drug costs.  Plans must take everyone who is eligible and enrolls.

When to enroll

You may join Medicare Part A, Part B and a drug plan during the three months before your birthday.  You can also join for up to three months after your birthday.  So if you turn 65 by July 1, 2010, you could join a drug plan starting April 1, 2010.

You do not have to join the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage if you do not want to. But if you are eligible to enroll in this drug coverage and you do not, you will have to pay a penalty if you join later on, unless you are eligible for the extra help with costs. If you have other drug coverage now, you may not have to pay the penalty.

Back to top