Medicare eligibility FAQ

To enroll in Medicare, you must meet certain rules. You may qualify if:

• You are age 65 or older
• You have a qualifying disability and have gotten Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months
• You have end-stage kidney failure and need dialysis or a transplant
• You have ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)

That depends on when you started getting benefits. Some people get Medicare automatically. Others need to sign up.

• Did you start getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at least 4 months before you turned 65? If so, you’ll be enrolled automatically.
• Didn’t get those benefits? You’ll need to sign up for Medicare on your own.

Medicare Advantage is also called Medicare Part C. This is a type of plan that builds on the Medicare benefits of Parts A and B. This plan joins your current benefits and adds new ones.

You can join Medicare Advantage if you:

• Have Medicare Parts A and B
• Live in the plan’s service area

Do you qualify? If you do, Aetna® or another company can help you with your benefits after you enroll.

You are eligible for Medicare Part D if you have Medicare Part A or Part B.

You may want to sign up for a Medicare drug plan unless you have other drug coverage that is just as good (creditable coverage). Medicare may add a Part D late enrollment penalty to your monthly Part D premium if:

• You don’t enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period
• You don’t have creditable prescription drug coverage

Do you have limited income and resources? You may qualify for the Extra Help program If you qualify for Extra Help, you won’t have to pay the late enrollment fee.

Eligibility depends on your age and current plan enrollment.

You may qualify for Medigap if:

• You’re 65 or older and have Medicare Part B

You may also qualify for a Medicare Supplement plan if:

• You’re under 65 and have a disability

Your first chance to sign up is called Medicare’s Initial Enrollment Period.

It lasts 7 months. Here’s how it works:

• It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65
• It includes the month you turn 65
• It ends 3 months after the month you turn 65

Example:

If you turn 65 in July, you can sign up from April through October.

When coverage starts:

Sign up during the first 3 months of your enrollment period?Then your coverage usually starts on the first day of your birthday month. 

Is your birthday on the first? Then your coverage will begin the month before.

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare while still working.

Here’s how it works:

• You can keep your job’s health plan after age 65.
• You can sign up for Medicare Part A as soon as you’re eligible.
  

(This helps you avoid paying a monthly premium.)

You should also sign up for Medicare Part B when you turn 65. (This helps you avoid a late fee later on.)