Don’t Miss the Deadline - Learn about Medicare Eligibility Age Requirements

No matter where you live, it seems like healthcare costs have impacted the level of government-funded services.  This may affect you if you at the state level if you receive low-income health insurance or children’s health insurance, but thankfully Medicare is a nationwide program.  Medicare eligibility is governed mainly by age requirements, but it can also be determined by Social Security eligibility. In other words, if you are a recipient of Social Security Disability income (SSDI), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare at any age, but there may be a waiting period.  Of all the intricacies involved with Medicare, the age requirements are the simplest part, but there are still a few deadlines you will have to meet.

According to their web site (Medicare.gov), you should file for coverage about three months prior to your 65^th birthday.  Seniors who are disabled and under the age of 65 will need to wait 24 months before they become eligible for Medicare.  However, there are a few exceptions for people under the age of 65, one of them being end-stage renal disease. The new Medicare website makes it much easier to understand the parameters of eligibility, but there is a still a lot of confusion about the difference between Medigap supplements and Medicare Advantage plans. 

What are the other requirements to receive Medicare?

For Medicare eligibility, age requirements are not the only way to qualify.  You must have also been employed in a job that was considered qualified Medicare employment.  Certain taxes, known as FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) must have been collected for a total of 40 credits in order to qualify.  Some self-employed workers voluntarily pay into this system to maintain eligibility. However, the spouse of a Medicare-eligible person is automatically qualified to receive coverage.

One question that a lot of seniors ask is whether they can check on their FICA credits.  There is one key way to check on this, and it is with your annual Social Security statement.  In addition to showing your projected monthly Social Security income at retirement age, these statements also show how many credits you’ve earned toward Medicare eligibility, once you meet the age requirements.

To find out more about Medicare eligibility, age requirements and how to make sure you have enough supplemental coverage, read “Medicare Eligibility and Age Requirements for Colorado Residents” or contact an Arizona health insurance broker.