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Medicare Eligibility in 2025

This is the question that is on the mind of a lot of people in their 60s. Turning 65 is a significant milestone for many people. Not only are you a year older, you are now officially eligible to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you’ve been able to receive Social Security for the past two years, then you also qualify for Medicare benefits.

When am I Eligible for Medicare?

Remembering your Medicare eligibility age can be confusing, as there are many different eligibility ages when you reach your 60s. For instance, you can begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits at age 62; however, most people do not reach full retirement age until 67 ½. This means that although you can start drawing benefits at age 62, you will not draw the full benefit you would be entitled to at age 67 ½. Somewhere in the middle of those two ages — at age 65 — is when you become Medicare eligible, whether you draw Social Security benefits or not. Confused yet? Every year in your 60s brings a new surprise!

Medicare Guide 2021

Technically, there is no retirement age for Medicare. It doesn’t matter if you retire at age 65 or not. This is the eligibility age for any of the Medicare benefits as long as you are a citizen of the United States and have lived here for at least five years continuously or more. This means that you have the option to enroll in Medicare at age 65 or remain covered under a creditable employer-sponsored health plan if you continue to work. It is important to weigh the benefits both ways, as not everyone will make the same decision.

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What Makes Someone Medicare Eligible?

You can qualify for Medicare if you are a United States citizen or a permanent legal resident living in the U.S. for at least five years. You are qualified to receive Social Security by having worked at least 40 quarters (10 years) in your lifetime.

If you did not work the adequate quarters, but your spouse did, you may be able to qualify for Medicare using their work credits, as long as they are at the eligibility age for Social Security benefits (62).

Can I Get Medicare at Age 62?

The standard Medicare enrollment eligibility begins when turning age 65. You can qualify for Medicare before that if you have been on Social Security disability for two years. The age when you are eligible to begin drawing your Social Security retirement benefits is 62, although you will not receive your full benefits at this age.

Do I Automatically Get Medicare When I Turn 65?

If you are already receiving Social Security benefits — or benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board — you will receive a notice that your Medicare will automatically begin at age 65, unless you contact Social Security to defer them.

If you are not receiving Social Security benefits and want your Medicare to begin at age 65, you will need to submit an application for Medicare Parts A and B. You can submit an application online during your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months prior to your 65th birthday.

It is important to understand that you do not want your Medicare Part B to start until you are ready to enroll in Medicare. If you are going to stay on your group plan past age 65 (20 or more employees), do not start Medicare Part B.

When Can I Enroll in Medicare?

medicare-eligibility-requirements

Most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65. When you get closer to your 65th birthday, there is a seven-month enrollment window when you can first apply for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. This window is known as your Initial Enrollment Window (IEP). Your IEP begins three months before the month of your birthday month, includes the month of your birthday, and ends three months after your birthday. If you want to begin your Medicare coverage when you turn 65, this is a critical window you don’t want to miss!

Not everyone has to wait until age 65 to enroll in Medicare. There are certain situations where you can apply for Medicare Part A and Part B benefits if you are under 65:

  • If you’ve been on Social Security disability income benefits for two years and are permanently disabled, then you will qualify.
  • If you have end-stage renal disease. This is when you’re required to get dialysis or wait for a transplant due to kidney failure.
  • Another qualification is Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

If you do not qualify for Medicare Disability and you do not plan on enrolling into Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, there are other enrollment periods you may qualify for, such as a Special Enrollment Period or the General Enrollment Period. Visit our Medicare Enrollment Periods page for more information on these specific enrollment periods.

Did you know that Medicare.Gov has an easy to use eligibility and premium calculator? Click the button above and it will take you there.