What Age Can I Apply For Medicare

Do I Need Medicare Part B

We always advise our clients to contact their employer or union benefits administrator before delaying Part A and Part B to learn more about how their insurance works with Medicare. Employer coverage may require that you enroll in both Part A and Part B to receive full coverage.

Common reasons beneficiaries delay Part B include:

When To Apply For Medicare: Whats The Initial Enrollment Period

For most people, the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month period. It starts three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and goes three more months after that. So if your 65th birthday is in November, your IEP runs from August through February.

Your IEP is different if youre not yet 65, but you qualify for Medicare by disability. For example, you might be automatically enrolled during your 25th month in a row of receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Learn how enrollment works if youre under 65 but eligible for Medicare through disability.

Whathappens When A Qualifying Spouse Is Younger

A person is eligible for Medicare Part A if they or their spouse have paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters of work.

This might become more challenging when an older adult with a younger spouse did not work 40 quarters but their spouse did.

If a younger spouse worked for 40 quarters, they can qualify their partner for Medicare coverage once they reach 62 years of age and the older, nonworking spouse reaches 65 years of age.

If a person reaches 65 years of age, did not pay Medicare taxes for 40 quarters, and has a spouse under the age of 62 years, they may have to pay for their Medicare Part A benefits until their qualifying spouse reaches 62 years of age.

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Will I Get Medicare At 62 If I Retire Then

If you retire before the age of 65, you may be able to continue to get medical insurance coverage through your employer, or you can purchase coverage from a private insurance company until you turn 65. While waiting for Medicare enrollment eligibility, you may contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program to discuss your options.

Here are other ways you may be eligible for Medicare at age 62:

• Or, you have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease
• You may qualify for Medicare due to a disability if you have been receiving SSDI checks for more than 24 months
• Are getting dialysis treatments or have had a kidney transplant

Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealths Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage. Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.

Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealths Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage. Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.

When To Apply For Medicare Part A And Part B

The Initial Enrollment Period is usually the first time you can apply for Medicare. There are a few special circumstances that might allow you to enroll earlier . But in general, people apply for Medicare within their seven-month IEP.

Heres what the Initial Enrollment Period looks like:

• Three full months before your 65th birthday month
• The entire month in which you turn 65
• Three full months after your birthday month

If you miss your sign-up window for Medicare Part A and Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period, there is also a General Enrollment Period every year from January 1 to March 31. And if you defer your Part B coverage , there is a Special Enrollment Period.

As a word of caution, if youre signing up for Medicare outside of your IEP, there are some pitfalls that are easily stepped into. You can read more about enrollment periods here.

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Signing Up For Premium

You can sign up for Part A any time after you turn 65. Your Part A coverage starts 6 months back from when you sign up or when you apply for benefits from Social Security . Coverage cant start earlier than the month you turned 65.

After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you can only sign up for Part B and Premium-Part A during one of the other enrollment periods.

Medicare Eligibility For People Under 62

There are a few exceptions for Medicare age limits that can allow people younger than 65 and under age 62 to enroll in Medicare.

• If you have ALS , you are immediately eligible for Medicare regardless of your age as soon as your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits begin.
• You may also qualify for Medicare if you have kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, which is known as end-stage renal disease .
• You may also qualify for Medicare at age 62 or any age before 65 if you receive disability benefits from either Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least 24 months.

If you qualify for Medicare under the age of 65 because of a disability, you might also qualify for a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan.

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Do I Need Other Documents If Im Enrolling In A Specific Part Of Medicare

Youll need to provide the documents listed above when you enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B . Together, parts A and B are known as original Medicare.

Youll need to enroll in original Medicare before you can enroll in any other Medicare parts. Other parts of Medicare include:

• Medicare Part D, which is prescription drug coverage
• Medicare supplement insurance, also called Medigap

You shouldnt need to submit any additional documentation when you enroll in these other parts.

Youll just be asked to provide your Medicare number and your Medicare Part A start date. You can find your Medicare number and Part A start date on your Medicare card.

You can get new copies of any documents you no longer have. Its a good idea to start gathering documents before you apply for Medicare.

If you need new copies of any documents, you can follow the steps below.

Do I Automatically Get Medicare When I Turn 65

Some people automatically get Medicare at age 65, but those numbers have declined as the Medicare and Social Security ages have continued to drift apart.

Most people who automatically get Medicare at age 65 do so because they have been receiving Social Security benefits for at least four months before turning 65. Traditionally, Medicare premiums are deducted from your Social Security check. For the longest time, you could retire with full Social Security benefits at 65 and start on Medicare at the same time.

You are still automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B at 65 if youre drawing Social Security, but not as many people draw Social Security that early these days because of changes to the eligibility age for full Social Security benefits.

In 2000, the Social Security Amendments of 1983 began pushing back the standard age for full Social Security benefits. The progressive changes are nearing their conclusion: Beginning in 2022, the standard age for full benefits will be 67 for anyone born after 1960.

Besides the Medicare eligibility age of 65, what remains unchanged is that you can opt to begin drawing partial Social Security benefits as early as age 62. So, if you opt for accepting partial Social Security benefits before age 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare.

A smaller group of people also automatically get Medicare at age 65: people who receive Railroad Board benefits for at least four months before 65.

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What Happens When Age And Disability Overlap

What if you qualify for Medicare based on age and disability? Which category do you fall under when enrolling? If you satisfy the age requirements, this takes precedence over qualifying by disability. In other words, your benefits would follow the regulations that apply to all age-qualified Medicare enrollees.

If you qualify for Medicare based on disability and are turning 65 in the near future, you dont need to hold off enrolling in Medicare to ensure youre able to select the best plan for you. People with disabilities can requalify for Medicare benefits at 65. When they do, they experience the same perks that newly age-qualified Medicare enrollees enjoy, including a second IEP, a Medicare Supplement insurance guaranteed issue period, and waived late enrollment penalties moving forward.

Medicare Supplement Eligibility Requirements

If you qualify for Medicare by age, you also qualify for Medigap insurance. The six-month period when you are both enrolled in Medicare Part B and 65 years old are called your guaranteed issue period.

During those six months, the federal government prevents Medicare Supplement insurance providers from charging you higher premiums, denying you coverage, or making you wait for coverage due to a preexisting condition.

Outside of your guaranteed issue period, you will likely be subject to medical underwriting. Major life events may qualify you for a Special Election Period with another guaranteed issue period.

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Medicare Enrollment Can Be Impacted By Social Security Benefits

Depending on your situation, you with either need to enroll in Medicare at age 65 or you may be able to delay. If you continue to work past age 65 and have creditable employer coverage , you can likely delay enrolling in Medicare until you lose that employer coverage. In most cases, people turning 65 will need to get Medicare during their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to avoid financial penalties for enrolling late. Your IEP begins 3 months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after.

Social Security benefits fit in the Medicare enrollment journey in one special way. If you are receiving either Social Security benefits for retirement or for disability, or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you first become eligible.

Does Medicare Have A Citizenship Requirement

As Medicare is a federally funded program, there are some citizenship requirements that you must meet in order to qualify.

If you have a green card and have lived in the United States for at least the last five years, you could be eligible for Medicare. Likewise, if you are a citizen and meet the age requirements, you are eligible for Medicare.

If you do not meet citizenship status on your own, but are married to a United States citizen or legal resident, you may still be able to get full Medicare coverage before the five year mark if you meet all of the following requirements:

• Youre 65 or older
• Your spouse is age 62 or over and has earned forty work credits
• Youve celebrated your first-year wedding anniversary

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Your Medicare Special Enrollment Period

If your employer has at least 20 employees and youre still working and covered under that plan when you turn 65, you can delay your enrollment in Medicare . In that case, youll get an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare if and when you leave your job or your employer stops offering coverage. It will start the month after you separate from your employer, or the month after your group health coverage ends whichever happens sooner.

Sign up during those eight months, and you wont have to worry about premium surcharges for being late. And the eight-month special enrollment period is also available if youre delaying Part B enrollment because youre covered under your spouses employer-sponsored plan, assuming their employer has at least 20 employees.

But note that in either case, it has to be a current employer. If youre covered under COBRA or a retiree plan, you wont avoid the Part B late enrollment penalty when you eventually enroll, and you wont have access to a special enrollment period to sign up for Part B youll have to wait for the general enrollment period instead.

When Do I Sign Up For Medicare Advantage

Before you sign up for Medicare Advantage, make sure you weigh the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplements. If you choose to sign up for Medicare Advantage, you can do so during your IEP.

If you missed your IEP, you can join during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. For those currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also have another opportunity to make changes during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

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Medicare Eligibility By Disability

Most Medicare recipients under the age of 65 reach eligibility during their 25th month receiving Social Security disability benefits. If you qualify for Medicare because of a disability, your Initial Enrollment Period will begin during the 22nd month you receive these benefitsthree months before youre eligible for coverage.

Naturalization Certificate Or Certificate Of Citizenship

You can request a copy of your Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. You can fill out Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship, either online or by mail, to have a copy of these documents sent to you.

To submit this form, youll need to pay a $555 fee and send in two identical passport-style photos of yourself. Youll also have to send in a sworn statement if your document was lost or a police report if it was stolen.

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Full Retirement Age By Year

Full retirement age is the age you begin to receive full Social Security benefits. If you start to draw your Social Security benefits before reaching your full retirement age, the payment you receive will be less.

An easy way to think about full benefits and retirement age is this,

• Social Security will reduce your payments if you choose to receive your benefit before full retirement age. The percentage of reduced amount is highest at age 62 and decreases until you reach full retirement age.

• If you choose to receive Social Security payments when you reach full retirement, you will get the total amount.

• Suppose you choose not to receive Social Security payments when you reach full retirement and delay your benefit. In that case, you can increase the amount of your payment by earning delayed retirement credits.

If youre not sure when you reach full retirement age, our table provides the years and months you need to know for full retirement.

• 2021 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. CMS.gov.

If youre looking for the governments Medicare site, please navigate to www.medicare.gov.

How To Get More Out Of Your Medicare Coverage

We covered the basics of how to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B, but of course thats not all there is to Medicare.

• Medicare Part D covers prescription medications.
• Medicare Advantage offers Original Medicare plus additional benefits, provided by private insurers.
• Medicare Supplement plans cover the costs Original Medicare wont with an additional monthly premium.

No matter your need, there is no shortage of options when it comes to Medicare. We’re here to help you navigate those options so you can find the best plan.

Check out our Medicare Guide if you’re looking for a more comprehensive explanation of your Medicare benefits.

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How To Apply For Medicare

You can apply online or sign up by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. If you’re still working at 65, here’s how it works.

If you are still working, age 65 or older, and covered by group health insurance:

When you turn 65, you should enroll in Medicare Part A even if you have health insurance from an employer. If you aren’t sure, check with your benefits department. Your group health plan usually becomes the secondary payor, with Medicare paying first. Unless your benefits department specifically tells you otherwise, you should apply for Medicare Part A.If you have not applied for Medicare yet, do so as soon as possible.

If you lose your group coverage, you can sign up for Part B during a special enrollment period . This situation may occur if you terminate employment after you reach 65. There is usually no late enrollment penalty if you sign up during the Special Enrollment Period.

For those who do not sign up at 65 and are not eligible for a SEP, Medicare has a general enrollment period each year from January 1 to March 31. If you apply for Medicare during this time, your benefits take effect July 1.

Once you enroll in Part A or Part B, you can enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan. If you’re enrolled in Part A and Part B, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you have Medicare Part A, and now need to start Part B:

Eligibility For Medicare Part D

You are eligible for Medicare Part D as long as you are actively enrolled in either Part A and/or B. You must also live in the Part D plans service area. Though Medicare Part D is voluntary, we strongly recommend it if you have no other drug coverage. Part D provides your insurance against future catastrophic medication costs. It will also help give you lower copays on medications you take now. Unlike Medicare Part B you only have sixty days from the time you are enrolled in either Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B to have credible drug coverage. This can be from a company plan, VA or TRICOR benefits, a retiree plan, a Medicare Advantage Plan with Drug Benefits, or a stand-alone Medicare PDP Part D Plan.

Remember if you dont have credible coverage you will be subject to penalties and like the penalties on Medicare Part B, these penalties follow you for the remainder of your life.

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