Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you are not yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums 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 filed for them.
- You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if you have:
- Received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
- End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain requirements.
You will not pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions. However, you must pay a premium for Part B if you want it. The standard Part B premium for 2011 was $96.40 and may change for 2012. Some people will pay a higher premium if their yearly income is over $85,000 for single or $170,000 for married couples.
Note: You will be eligible for Medicare when you turn 65 even if you are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. For more information, please visit our retirement age FAQ.
If you have questions about your eligibility for Medicare Part A or Part B, or if you want to apply for Medicare, please call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or visit or call your local Social Security office. TTY users should call (800) 325-0778. You can also get information about buying Part A as well as Part B if you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A.