Will I get Medicare at age 65 if I am not yet eligible for Social Security?

September 20, 2009 by admin

Although the retirement age is now 67, 65 remains as the starting date for Medicare eligibility. You will be eligible to apply for Medicare if you have paid into Social Security for at least 10 years or you are eligible to receive Social Security benefits on your spouse's (or your former spouse's) earnings. If you do not meet these requirements, you can still get Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) by paying a monthly premium if you are a citizen or a lawfully admitted alien who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years. Also, anyone who is age 65 and a citizen or a lawfully admitted alien with five years of residency in the United States can sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance and pay a monthly premium. Be sure to sign up for Medicare about three months before you reach age 65. And remember, you do not have to be retired to enroll in Medicare. To find out if you are eligible for Medicare and when you can enroll, please visit Medicare's Medicare Eligibility Tool. For more information about retirement, please visit the Retirement Planner on or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778).