Three groups of people are eligible for Medicare: people 65 and older, younger people with disabilities, and those with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Knowing whether or not you are eligible for Medicare is simple once you understand the criteria for each category. Keep reading to learn more.
People 65 and Up
Medicare was created to provide health insurance to older people. Therefore, the largest group of people enrolled in Medicare includes people 65 and up. Most people qualify once they turn 65, but there are a few specifications. In particular, to qualify as a part of this group:
- You must be a U.S. citizen
- You are a permanent legal resident and have lived in the U.S. for at least five years
- You or your spouse must have worked at least 40 quarters (ten years) during which you paid Medicare taxes
If you fall under the above category, then you qualify for Medicare.
People with Disabilities
You do not have to be 65 to qualify for Medicare. A younger group who can still qualify for Medicare includes people with disabilities that qualify for Social Security. Specifically, people with disabilities must have been entitled to Social Security benefits for at least 24 months. The specific criteria stipulate that:
- You must be a U.S. citizen
- You are a permanent legal resident and have lived in the U.S. for at least five years
- You must have been entitled to Social Security Benefits for at least 24 months in total, not necessarily consecutively
- You receive a disability pension from the railroad retirement board and meet certain conditions
- You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
You can qualify for Medicare and enroll through Social Security if you meet the above criteria.
People with ESRD
People with ESRD can also qualify for Medicare before they turn 65. Like the other two groups, they also have specific criteria to meet to qualify. Specifically:
- You must be a U.S. citizen
- You are a permanent legal resident and have lived in the U.S. for at least five years
- You must have permanent kidney failure requiring regular dialysis or a kidney transplant.
- You or your spouse have paid social security taxes for a certain length of time, depending on your age.
People with ESRD often have a waiting period of about four months of dialysis before they truly qualify for Medicare.
Qualifying for Medicare
If you belong to any of the above groups, you qualify for Medicare. If you have questions or concerns, give us a call today. We can walk you through your eligibility criteria to help you get the best coverage possible!