At What Age Can I Sign Up for Medicare?

Medicare is a federally-funded health insurance program that covers hospital care, doctor's services and preventive care, and prescription drugs. Medicare is often confused with Medicaid. Medicare is available to all Americans regardless of income, while Medicaid is health insurance for low-income Americans of all ages. However, while there are no income restrictions for Medicare beneficiaries, you must meet age eligibility guidelines to qualify for benefits.

Aging In to Medicare

• In general, if you have worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment, meaning that you have paid taxes from your paycheck into Medicare for at least 10 years, you are eligible for Medicare benefits when you turn 65. The Social Security Administration will automatically enroll you when you are eligible. If you plan to enroll in a Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, you can enroll anytime during your Initial Enrollment Period, which is the seven-month period beginning three months before your 65th birthday and the four months following it. Your Medicare benefits begin on the first day of the month of your birthday. If your birthday is on the first of the month, your benefits begin the first day of the prior month.

End-Stage Renal Disease

• If a doctor has diagnosed you with End-Stage Renal Disease, meaning that you have regular dialysis and/or need a kidney transplant, you also qualify for Medicare benefits at any age. Children under age 18 only qualify for Medicare if one of their parents has earned six Medicare credits within the past three years, or is a federal government employee or receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Disability

• If you receive disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are eligible to receive Medicare benefits in the 25th month that you receive disability. In other words, if you receive disability for two years, you then qualify for Medicare. However, if you have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, your Medicare benefits begin during the first month of your disability.

Deferring Medicare Part B

• It is possible to defer your Medicare benefits even if you are over age 65. If you are still working and have health insurance through your employer, you can defer your Medicare Part B coverage as long as you have alternative health coverage. Once you leave your employer or your health coverage ends, you have eight months to enroll in Medicare Part B without penalty, no matter how old you are at the time.