The Medicare eligibility age is 65, until you qualify sooner due to sure well being circumstances. Earlier than age 65, individuals can qualify for Medicare based mostly on incapacity, end-stage renal illness or Lou Gehrig’s illness, also called ALS.
However don’t wait till after your sixty fifth birthday to join Medicare. You may and may join a number of months earlier than you flip 65.
Right here’s what you should learn about your Medicare eligibility age and when to enroll.
What is the Medicare eligibility age?
For most individuals, Medicare eligibility begins at age 65. There are over 58 million individuals who qualify for Medicare based mostly on age as of March 2023 — about 88% of all Medicare beneficiaries.
Do I mechanically get Medicare after I flip 65?
Some individuals mechanically get Medicare after they flip 65 — however not everybody does.
When you’re already receiving Social Safety funds as you flip 65, you’ll be mechanically signed up for Medicare Half A and Half B whenever you develop into eligible. (Despite the fact that the full retirement age for Social Safety is 67 for individuals born in 1960 or later, you can begin claiming lowered advantages as early as age 62.)
So in the event you began taking Social Safety funds early, you’ll mechanically get Medicare whenever you flip 65.
Enroll in Medicare earlier than your sixty fifth birthday
You develop into eligible for Medicare at age 65, however you need to join earlier than that in order for you your protection to begin as quickly as attainable.
You may join Medicare throughout your preliminary enrollment interval, which begins months earlier than you flip 65 and lasts for seven months. For most individuals, it begins three months earlier than the month you flip 65. So in case your birthday is in April, for instance, you possibly can join beginning Jan. 1. Your preliminary enrollment interval ends on the final day of the month three months after you flip 65.
In case your birthday is on the primary of the month, your preliminary enrollment interval begins earlier — 4 months earlier than your birthday month, fairly than three. So in case your birthday is April 1, you possibly can join beginning the earlier Dec. 1. For this instance, your preliminary enrollment interval would finish June 30, or two months after your flip 65.
When you enroll earlier than the month you flip 65, your protection begins on the primary day of your birthday month. When you join throughout or after your birthday month, Medicare protection begins the month after you join.
