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U.S. Government Medicare Age Requirements

Medicare was created in the United States in 1965, along with Medicaid, another national health insurance program. Though the two have some similarities, they have different benefits and mostly serve different populations, although there are individuals who qualify for both. Medicare eligibility is based mainly on age and has nothing to do with when a person officially retires. The program is designed to be used by senior citizens, although you can still qualify if you are not a senior under certain circumstances.

  1. People 65 or Older

    • Anyone 65 or older who is a citizen of the United States can enroll in original Medicare, Parts A and B. Parts A and B cover inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health, hospice and preventive services. You can sign up for the program from three months before the month of your 65th birthday until three months after it. This is called your initial enrollment period. You can sign up only for Part A or any other part of Medicare you like during this time. Part B is not mandatory, but you cannot enroll in Part C, Medicare Advantage, without getting both Parts A and B. You can, however, enroll in Part D prescription drug coverage with either Part A or Part B. Many people 65 or older also receive Part A premium-free. If you 65 and older and have paid 10 years, or 40 quarters, of Medicare taxes, you get Part A without monthly premiums. If you have not paid these taxes but are 65 or over, you can still enroll if you agree to pay a monthly premium.

    People With Disabilities

    • People with disabilities may be able to enroll in Medicare even if they are under 65 years old. If you have been entitled to Social Security benefits because of a disability for 24 months, regardless of whether or not you have actually been receiving them, you can sign up or Medicare. You are also entitled to get Part A premium-free.

    Spouses

    • If you are age 65, you can sign up for Medicare regardless of whether or not your spouse is also 65. But if your spouse is 65 or over and has worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10 years, you also qualify for premium-free Part A, even if you did not pay any taxes. This applies even if your spouse has died or if you are no longer married.

    Children or Widowers

    • Under certain circumstances, children and widowers age 50 or older may be eligible for Medicare. If you are the disabled child or surviving spouse of a person who worked in a government job and paid Medicare taxes, you are not only entitled to sign up for the program, you are also entitled to receive premium-free Part A. However, you will more than likely not be able to find a Medicare supplement program that will enroll you until you reach 65 years of age.

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