Medicare Eligibility
Populations covered by Medicare
Medicare is a federally funded health insurance plan. It’s targeted to 3 groups: people 65 and older, people under 65 with disabilities, and people under 65 with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
The criteria to be considered eligible for Medicare are different based on which group you belong to. Read on to learn more about how to qualify for Medicare.
Get A FREE Quote
For all your Medicare questions and health needs, contact Modern Senior Benefits today.
Medicare for People 65 and Older
One of the largest Medicare groups is people who are 65 and older. To qualify for Medicare as someone 65 and up, you have to meet the following criteria:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years.
- You or your spouse must have worked to earn 40 credits – usually at least ten years – during which you paid Medicare taxes.
Medicare for People Under 65 with Disabilities
Another group of people who are eligible for Medicare is younger people with disabilities. To qualify for Medicare as a person with a disability, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years.
- You must have been entitled to Social Security Benefits for at least 24 months (not necessarily consecutively); or
- You receive a disability pension from the railroad retirement board and meet certain conditions; or
- You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Medicare for People Under 65 with End-Stage Renal Disease
The last group of people who are eligible for Medicare is people under 65 with ESRD. To qualify for Medicare for ESRD, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years.
- You must have permanent kidney failure requiring regular dialysis or a kidney transplant.
- You and/or your spouse have paid social security taxes for a certain length of time, depending on your age.
Summary
To qualify for Medicare, you must belong to one of the following populations: people 65 and older, younger people with disabilities, or younger people with ESRD. There are certain qualifications for each group, so make sure to check with an insurance agent to understand your Medicare eligibility.
