Medicare Eligibility
Unsure if you’re eligible? Let us help you figure out where you stand.
You are generally entitled to Medicare if you meet any of the following criteria:
- You are age 65 or above.
- You are disabled and have received disability benefits from Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits.
- You have been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, “Lou Gehrig’s disease”).
Enrolling in Medicare
Learn more about the timeframes for Medicare enrollment.
Initial Enrollment Period
Your Initial Enrollment Period is when you first become eligible for Medicare. This is a seven-month window when you can enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B). You can also enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) plan if you are already enrolled in Original Medicare.
Alternatively, you can choose a Medicare Advantage plan through a private insurer that covers all Parts A and B services and typically includes Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) coverage.
Once your Initial Enrollment Period has ended, you can only make enrollment changes during either the Medicare Open Enrollment Period or General Enrollment Period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.