Are You Eligible for Medicare?

Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment, are 65 years old, and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you are not 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have been declared disabled for 24 months or diagnosed with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant) or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Here are some simple guidelines. You can apply for Part A at age 65 if:

• You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them. Any premiums are billed quarterly.
• You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you are under 65, you can get Part A if:

• You have received Social Security or Railroad RetirementBoard disability benefit for 24 months.
• You are a kidney dialysis/transplant or Lou Gehrig's patient. (Successful transplant patients may lose disability, and therefore Medicare coverage, after one year.)

While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months, then monthly with the EFT option.

You apply for your Medicare benefits 12-14 weeks prior to the month of your 65th birthday at SSA.GOV website or visit your local SSA office. It usually takes 30 days for applications to be processed and another 14 days to receive your Medicare Card. You CANNOT apply for any Medicare Advantage, Supplement, or Part D drug plan without a Medicare Card or SSA Benefits Verification Letter.  

Have questions? Give us a call and let us help you with your Medicare Health insurance needs.

By contacting the phone number on this website you will be directed to a licensed agent.