When Are You Eligible for Medicare?
There are three main ways that you can become eligible for Medicare. The most common way an individual become eligible is by turning 65. However, you can also be eligible if you are disabled and receiving social security benefits or have end-stage renal disease. Continue reading to determine how you may be eligible.
Turning 65
Most people become eligible for Medicare because they are aging in, which means you are turning 65. You are eligible for Medicare at the age of 65 if you have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters within your lifetime. Your Initial Enrollment Period runs three months prior to and three months after your 65th birthday. At this time, you can select and enroll in a new plan.
If you miss this Initial Enrollment Period or decide not to enroll, you will be able to enroll annually during the Annual Enrollment Period. However, you will incur a late enrollment penalty.
Click Here to watch Medicare 101 and learn more about aging into Medicare.
Disability
Another way to become eligible for Medicare is by disability. If you are receiving Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months, you will then qualify for Medicare on the 25th month. The 25th month then becomes your Initial Enrollment Period.
End-Stage Renal Disease
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last stage of chronic kidney disease, kidney failure. For people in ESRD you must either need a kidney transplant or regular dialysis to qualify automatically for Medicare. You become eligible after your first dialysis treatment. However, benefits expire if a kidney transplant is received, and dialysis treatments are no longer necessary.
Appointments are available at no charge or obligation to enroll, click the link below to request a virtual, in-person or telephone appointment or give us a call at (800) 452-6826.
