Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older.  You may also be eligible to get Medicare if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Diseases or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Some people will automatically get Medicare, others have to sign up—it depends if you start collecting Social Security or disability benefits from Social Security before you turn 65.
 

What does Social Security and Medicare have in common?

Before you turn 65:

• • If you apply to start getting retirement benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) at least 4 months before you turn 65, you’ll automatically get Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) when you turn 65.
  • You’ll still need to make important decisions about how you get your coverage, including adding drug coverage.
  • If you want to get Medicare when you turn 65, but aren’t planning to take your Social Security benefits at that time, you’ll need to sign up for Medicare.

After you turn 65:

• • You’ll have to contact Social Security when you’re ready to sign up for Medicare or apply online.
  • Depending on your work situation and if you have health coverage through your employer, you may want to wait to sign up for Medicare.