Medicare Eligibility
Medicare Eligibility
Before you can register for Medicare, you must meet the requirements needed to qualify. There are several ways to become eligible for Medicare. You can be eligible for Medicare due to age, disability benefits, or certain illnesses such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or End-Stage Renal Disease.
Qualification by Age
Most people qualify for Medicare by age. You can become eligible if you are 65 years or older. If you meet the requirements, you will become eligible for Medicare three months before you turn 65 and enter the Initial Enrollment Period, which will then last up to three months after you turn 65.
If you fail to enroll during the Initial Enrollment Period, you have the opportunity to enroll during the General Enrollment Period. However, you will pay a late enrollment penalty if you miss your Initial Enrollment Period. In some cases, it is possible to qualify for Medicare before you turn 65 if you receive disability benefits.
Qualification by Disability
Another way to qualify for Medicare is if you receive Social Security Disability benefits. You can qualify for Medicare if you have received Social Security Disability benefits for a period of 24 months, and will be automatically eligible to receive Medicare benefits on the 25th month. Your Initial Enrollment Period will start on the 25th month of receiving Social Security benefits.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/End-Stage Renal Disease
You can also become eligible for Medicare if you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or End-Stage Renal disease. For people with End-Stage Renal Disease, they must either need a kidney transplant or regular dialysis to qualify for Medicare automatically. The Medicare benefits will kick in after the first dialysis. However, the eligibility will expire if the individual receives a kidney transplant and no longer needs dialysis. Also, people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis automatically qualify for Original Medicare once they get the diagnosis.
Other Requirements
There are other qualifications that must be met to qualify. For example, you must be a legal citizen of the U.S. or a permanent resident for five years or more. Also, enrollees can only receive Medicare benefits in the United States under health providers that are approved by Medicare.
People who receive disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board can qualify for Medicare while being under 65 under certain conditions.
If you want to know more about Medicare eligibility and whether you can enroll for Medicare, do not hesitate to reach out to us today for more information.
