Sign up for Medicare as soon as you are eligible to get coverage as soon as feasible. This will also assist you in avoiding late enrollment fines.

Here's everything you need to know about Medicare eligibility and how to figure out when you're eligible.

Who qualifies for Medicare?

There are two ways to become eligible for Medicare:

Medicare eligibility age

When you turn 65, you become eligible for Medicare based on your age. The majority of Medicare beneficiaries, approximately 88%, qualify based on age.

Medicare eligibility based on disability

Individuals who do not satisfy the age restrictions may be eligible depending on their disability status.

According to the Social Security Administration, qualifying for benefits based on disability generally requires that at least one of the following be true:

• You have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for at least 24 months.
• You have advanced renal disease.
• You have Lou Gehrig's disease, often known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Medicare Part A eligibility

Medicare Part A covers hospital and skilled nursing facility inpatient treatment, hospice care, and home health services.

You become eligible for Medicare Part A when you reach the age of 65 or if you are disabled.

The majority of seniors are eligible for free Medicare Part A coverage. Your job history determines whether you are eligible for premium-free Part A. In general, if you or your spouse have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least ten years, you will be eligible for free Medicare Part A. (In some cases, people with impairments may have alternative requirements.)

Eligibility to buy Medicare Part A

If you are not eligible for Medicare Part A without paying premiums, you may still be able to get Part A coverage. In 2023, the Medicare Part A premium might reach $506 per month.

To be eligible for Medicare Part A, you must be 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. (Those who have premium-free Medicare Part A are not compelled to enroll in Part B, but it is usually a good idea.)

Medicare Part B eligibility

Part B of Medicare provides preventative treatments as well as medically essential outpatient health care.

Your eligibility for Medicare Part B is determined by your eligibility for Medicare Part A.

When you qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A, you also qualify for Medicare Part B.

If you are not eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, you are eligible for Medicare Part B if all of the following conditions are met:

• You are at least 65 years old.
• You live in the United States.
• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has lived in the United States continuously for five years prior to qualifying for Medicare.

Medicare Part C eligibility

Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a private insurance company-sold bundled option to Medicare Parts A and B.

If you qualify for Medicare Parts A and B and are either a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S., you can join a Medicare Advantage plan.

The availability of Medicare Advantage programs varies by location. To join a plan, you must live inside its coverage region. To see plans available in your area, go to medicare.gov/plan-compare or visit the websites of insurance carriers.

Medicare Part D eligibility

Part D of Medicare covers outpatient prescription medicines. Medicare prescription drug coverage is available by purchasing either a stand-alone Part D plan to supplement Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage.

To be eligible for any type of Medicare prescription medication coverage, you must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the United States.

Stand-alone Medicare Part D eligibility

You can purchase a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan from a commercial insurance carrier if you have Medicare Part A and/or Part B.

The availability of Medicare Part D plans varies by location, so you'll need to pick one that covers you where you reside. To see plans available in your area, go to medicare.gov/plan-compare or visit the websites of insurance carriers.

Medicare Part D eligibility with Medicare Advantage

Most Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans cover prescription drugs, so you don't need to purchase a separate Medicare Part D plan. In fact, if you enroll in a separate Part D plan, you will be disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage plan unless it is one of the following (less common) plan types:

• Private fee-for-service, or PFFS.
• Medical savings account, or MSA.
• Medicare Cost plan.
• Certain employer-sponsored Medicare plans.

Medigap eligibility

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap, is a type of private insurance that covers some of the out-of-pocket expenditures associated with Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B). To be qualified for a Medigap policy, you must have both Medicare Part A and Part B.

Medigap policies are only compatible with Original Medicare. Medigap coverage cannot be used in conjunction with a Medicare Advantage plan. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, no one can sell you a Medigap policy unless you move back to Original Medicare.

For more information about Medicare, go to Medicare.gov or contact 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).