When Am I Eligible for Medicare?

Medicare Eligibility Requirements

Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you are not yet 65, you may qualify for coverage if you have a disability or you have End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).

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 haven’t 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 benefits for 24 months.
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain requirements.