What Age Can You Get Medicare Benefits

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.

Can I Get Medicare Early If I Retire Early

If you retire earlier than age 65, you will not be eligible for Medicare. Although Medicare is often thought of as insurance for retired people, the Medicare age requirement is still 65. Some people continue to work past age 65 and have insurance coverage through their employer. Many people retire before they turn 65 and must purchase health insurance or are covered on their spouses insurance plan. Although you may be eligible for social security retirement benefits if you retire early, it does not change your age requirement for Medicare health insurance coverage.

What Happens If You Dont Sign Up For Medicare

Its always your choice whether you sign up for Medicare, but you should understand the consequences of not signing up for this health insurance, including:

• Youll pay the full amount for all medical care unless you have private health insurance
• You may face delays getting Medicare coverage in future
• Youll face penalties if you change your mind and sign up for Medicare later

Automatic enrollment for Social Security beneficiaries makes getting Medicare easy. While you always have a choice about which Medicare plans you keep, consider their benefits now and in the future before making any decisions about your insurance-based coverage.

Zia Sherrell is a digital health journalist with over a decade of healthcare experience, a bachelors degree in science from the University of Leeds and a masters degree in public health from the University of Manchester. Her work has appeared in Netdoctor, Medical News Today, Healthline, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, Yahoo, Harpers Bazaar, Mens Health and more.

When shes not typing madly, Zia enjoys traveling and chasing after her dogs.

Recommended Reading: What Age Collect Social Security Benefits

The Proposal For Medicare At 60

Besides a proposal to offer a public health insurance option similar to Medicare, President Biden hopes to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. During the presidential race, this was part of his health care platform. Currently, the age at which one becomes Medicare-eligible is 65. Individuals under 65 can obtain Medicare if they collect SSDI for 24 months or are diagnosed with ALS or ESRD.

Lowering the eligibility age five years aims to provide health care to those who retired early, are unemployed, or lack health benefits through their employer. Additionally, qualifying U.S. citizens over 60 would have an extra health care option. As the market is more difficult for older job seekers, the President says its necessary to provide this safety net.

How Do People Under Age 65 With Disabilities Qualify For Medicare

People under age 65 become eligible for Medicare if they have received SSDI payments for 24 months. Because people are required to wait five months before receiving disability benefits, SSDI recipients must wait a total of 29 months before their Medicare coverage begins. People under age 65 who are diagnosed with end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis automatically qualify for Medicare upon diagnosis without a waiting period.5 Of those who were receiving SSDI in 2014, 34% qualified due to mental disorders, 28% due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, 4% due to injuries, 3% due to cancer, and 30% due to other diseases and conditions.6

Also Check: What Are My Ss Benefits When I Retire

Make Your Decisions Independently

Collecting Social Security is by no means a prerequisite to getting Medicare. In fact, its often advisable to sign up for Medicare as soon as youre eligible but wait on Social Security to avoid a reduction in benefits, or boost them as much as possible.

The only downside to signing up for Medicare alone is having to make your premium payments directly, as opposed to having them deducted from your Social Security benefits, but its a small price to pay for the upside of a higher lifetime income stream.

Maurie Backman has been writing professionally for well over a decade, and her coverage area runs the gamut from healthcare to personal finance to career advice. Much of her writing these days revolves around retirement and its various components and challenges, including healthcare, Medicare, Social Security, and money management.

How Are Disabled Widows Benefits Calculated

Your survivors benefit amount is based on the earnings of the person who died. The more they paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. The monthly amount you would get is a percentage of the deceaseds basic Social Security benefit . Two surviving parents 75 percent to each parent.

Don’t Miss: What Are The 3 Main Types Of Social Security Benefits

Medicare Coverage For Children

You can get Medicare coverage for kids in some limited circumstances.

Medicare defines a kid or child as anyone who is unmarried and under age 22. Once a child qualifies for Medicare, they can keep the coverage until theyre 26 years old, as long as they remain unmarried and continue to meet the qualifications.

In either qualifying case, a child will need to have a parent or legal guardian who has either earned at least 6 Social Security work credits in the past 3 years or receives Social Security retirement benefits.

Medicare allows children to qualify through biological, adoptive, or stepparents. In the case of stepparents, theyll need to have been the childs stepparent for at least 1 year.

Children can also qualify through grandparents and stepgrandparents if theyre acting as the childs guardian.

Medicare coverage for kids is only intended for children with disabilities. Even then, there are very specific times when a child will be eligible for coverage.

At What Age Do I Qualify For Medicare

Medicare eligibility for seniors begins at age 65 . Your initial enrollment period for Medicare begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday, and ends three months after the month you turn 65.

If you miss your initial Medicare enrollment window, you can sign up during the general enrollment period of January 1 through March 31 of each year. But holding off too long could cost you. If you wait too long to sign up for Medicare Part B, youll face a 10 percent increase in your Part B premiums for every year-long period you were eligible to enroll but didnt. There are also financial implications associated with waiting too long to sign up for a Part D drug plan.

That said, if youre still working and have coverage under a group health plan during the seven-month period surrounding your 65th birthday, youll get a special enrollment period that begins when you separate from your employer or your group coverage ends. As such, you wont have to worry about the aforementioned penalties provided you sign up during your special enrollment period.

You May Like: When Do Social Security Benefits Become Taxable

How Do Medicare Spending And Use Of Services Differ For Beneficiaries Under Age 65 With Disabilities And Older Beneficiaries

Medicare per capita spending

Average total Medicare spending is higher for traditional Medicare beneficiaries under age 65, mainly due to higher Part D prescription drug spending.13 Medicare per capita spending for beneficiaries younger than age 65 averaged $13,098 in 2014, nearly one third more than average per capita spending for beneficiaries over age 65 .14 Excluding Part D drug spending, the difference narrows considerably to $9,281 for beneficiaries under age 65 and $8,814 for those over age 65, on average. On average, beneficiaries under age 65 have higher per capita spending for drugs covered under Part D and for inpatient and outpatient services, but lower spending on post-acute and hospice care than beneficiaries over age 65 .

Figure 5: Average Medicare Per Capita Spending for Beneficiaries Under Age 65 With Disabilities and Over Age 65, by Type of Service, 2014

Use of medical services

Can I Get Medicare At Age 55

Like those who retire at 62, those who retire at age 55 are not eligible for Medicare. While you may be eligible for Social Security benefits, this is not the same as Medicare healthcare coverage.

Get A Free Quote

Find the most affordable Medicare Plan in your area

The only time you qualify for Medicare before age 65 is if you have been diagnosed with specific conditions or have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months.

Read Also: Apply For Social Security Retirement Benefits

Requalifying For Medicare At 65

If you become eligible for Medicare before you turn 65 due to disability or one of the above diagnoses, youll requalify again when you reach age 65. When you do, youll have another Initial Enrollment Period and all the benefits of a newly eligible Medicare recipient, such as a Medicare Supplement Enrollment Period.

Got A Question Youd Like Answered

You can ask a question simply by hitting reply to our email newsletter, just as you would with any email in your inbox. If youre not subscribed, fix that right now by clicking here. Its free, only takes a few seconds, and will get you valuable information every day!

The questions were likeliest to answer are those that will interest other readers. So, its better not to ask for super-specific advice that applies only to you.

About me

I hold a doctorate in economics from the University of Wisconsin and taught economics at the University of Delaware for many years. In 2009, I co-founded SocialSecurityChoices.com, an internet company that provides advice on Social Security claiming decisions. You can learn more about that by clicking here.

Got any words of wisdom you can offer on todays question? Share your knowledge and experiences on our. And if you find this information useful, please share it!

Disclaimer: We strive to provide accurate information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is offered with the understanding that we are not offering legal, accounting, investment or other professional advice or services, and that the SSA alone makes all final determinations on your eligibility for benefits and the benefit amounts. Our advice on claiming strategies does not comprise a comprehensive financial plan. You should consult with your financial adviser regarding your individual situation.

Also Check: What Is Statement Of Understanding Medicare

Recommended Reading: Social Security Benefit At Age 62

If I Retire At Age 62 Will I Be Eligible For Medicare At That Time

• IV.

Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 or older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage kidney disease. Most commonly, you are eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, but there are other health insurance options if you are younger and do not have coverage through you or your spouses employer.

What you should know

Medicare was established in 1965 in order to provide health coverage for seniors who would otherwise not be covered by employer-sponsored health insurance plans. If you retire at the age of 62, you may be eligible for retirement benefits through social security, but early retirement will not make you eligible for Medicare.

Beware The Blackout Period

As noted earlier, a widow or widower generally doesnt qualify for their benefits until age 60. However, that person can collect payouts as the caregiver for the deceaseds children until they turn 16.

Children qualify for benefits until they turn 18 . But between the childs 18th birthday and the spouses 60th birthday , no one in the family is eligible to collect. Thats whats known as a blackout period.

For example, a woman is left widowed at the age of 30 with a two-year-old son. As her sons caregiver, she is entitled to collect Social Security benefits for 14 years, until his 16thbirthday. After that, her son continues to receive his survivor benefits for two more years, until hes 18. His mom will be 48 at that point, leaving the family ineligible for any payments until her widows benefits become available when shes 60. In this case, the Social Security blackout period lasts 12 years.

One possible solution is for families to make sure they have adequate life insurance to support a surviving spouse during any blackout period. Take, for instance, a couple, both 31 years old, who recently had a child. If either parent dies, the surviving spouse is eligible to collect benefits until they are 47 years old . If they both buy 30-year term life insurance policies and keep up with the premiums, theyll be assured of coverage until age 61one year after Social Security eligibility is reinstatedin case one of them dies.

Also Check: What Is The Minimum Social Security Retirement Benefit Amount

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.

What Are My Rights As A Medicare Beneficiary

As a Medicare beneficiary, you have certain guaranteed rights. These rights protect you when you get health care, they assure you access to needed health care services, and protect you against unethical practices.

You have these rights whether you are in Original Medicare or another Medicare health plan.

Your rights include, but are not limited to:

The Right to Receive Emergency Care

If you have severe pain, an injury, or a sudden illness that you believe may cause your health serious danger without immediate care, you have the right to receive emergency care. You never need prior approval for emergency care, and you may receive emergency care anywhere in the United States.

The Right to Appeal Decisions About Payments or Services for Medical Care

If you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you have the right to appeal denial of a payment for a service you have been provided. If you are enrolled in another Medicare health plan, you have the right to appeal the plan’s denial for a service to be provided.

The Right to Information About All Treatment Options

You have the right to know about all your health care treatment options from your health care provider. Medicare forbids its health plans from making any rules that would stop a doctor from telling you everything you need to know about your health care. If you think your Medicare health plan may have kept a provider from telling you everything you need to know about your health care options, then you have the right to appeal.

You May Like: Commonwealth Senior Living Employee Benefits

Am I Eligible For Medicare

To receive Medicare, you must be eligible for Social Security benefits.

Part A Eligibility

Most people age 65 or older are eligible for Medicare Part A based on their own employment, or their spouse’s employment. Most people have enough Social Security credits to get Part A for free. Others must purchase it.

You are eligible for Medicare Part A if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, even if you do not receive those benefits.
• You are entitled to Social Security benefits based on a spouse’s, or divorced spouse’s work record, and that spouse is at least 62 years old.
• You have worked long enough in a federal, state, or local government job to be eligible for Medicare.

If you are under 65, you are eligible for Medicare Part A if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months.
• You have received Social Security benefits as a disabled widow, divorced disabled widow, or a disabled child for 24 months.
• You have worked long enough in a federal, state, or local government job and meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program.
• You have permanent kidney failure that requires maintenance dialysis or a kidney transplant.
• You are diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Part B Eligibility

If you are eligible for Part A, you can enroll in Medicare Part B which has a monthly premium.

Will I Need To Prove My Age?

Automatic Enrollment

If You Disagree With Our Decision

If you disagree with the decision we made about your income-related monthly adjustment amounts, you have the right to appeal. The fastest and easiest way to file an appeal of your decision is online. You can file online and provide documents electronically to support your appeal. You can file an appeal online even if you live outside of the United States.

You may also request an appeal in writing by completing a Request for Reconsideration , or contact your local Social Security office. You can use the appeal form online, or request a copy through our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 . You dont need to file an appeal if youre requesting a new decision because you experienced one of the events listed and, it made your income go down, or if youve shown us the information we used is wrong.

If you disagree with the MAGI amount we received from the IRS, you must correct the information with the IRS. If we determine you must pay a higher amount for Medicare prescription drug coverage, and you dont have this coverage, you must call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to make a correction at 1-800-MEDICARE . We receive the information about your prescription drug coverage from CMS.

Don’t Miss: Tax Benefit For 529 Plan