1. AGE-BASED ELIGIBILITY: Most individuals become eligible for Medicare at age 65. This is when they qualify for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance). You can apply for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which typically begins three months before your 65th birthday and MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY
ends three months after your birthday month. 2. DISABILITY-BASED ELIGIBILITY:
People under 65 can also be eligible for Medicare if they have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or certain Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) disability benefits for at least 24 months. This 24-month waiting period is designed to ensure that individuals with long- term disabilities have access to Medicare.
3. END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) / AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS):
Individuals of any age who have ESRD (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant) - ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) can be eligible for Medicare, regardless of age, without the typical 24-month waiting period.
Powered by FlippingBook