Are You Eligible for Medicare?

To qualify for Medicare, generally you must have worked at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment, either yourself or through your spouse, and be 65 years old, a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident.

If you're under 65, you may still be eligible for Medicare if you have a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or a transplant.

Here are some simplified guidelines:

  • At age 65, you can enroll in Medicare Part A without paying premiums if:

  • You already receive retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

  • You're eligible for Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven't applied for them.

  • You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you're under 65, you can enroll in Medicare Part A without paying premiums if:

  • You've received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.

  • You have ESRD and require regular dialysis or have had a kidney transplant.

    While Part A may not require premiums under these conditions, you'll need to pay for Part B coverage. The premium for Part B is typically deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don't receive any of these payments, Medicare will send you a bill for your Part B premium every three months.