Medicare Eligibility
Medicare Eligibility
Who is eligible for Medicare anyway? Medicare eligibility begins for most people at age 65. Individuals who have been entitled to Social Security disability for at least 24 months also qualify.
Many people confuse their Medicare Eligibility date with their Social Security date. They are different. A person can apply for full retirement income benefits at age 66. However, this does not affect the age at which they qualify for Medicare. Everyone who has worked at least 40 quarters (10 years) in the United States during their lifetime can qualify for Medicare at age 65.
Eligibility for Medicare Part A
Medicare Eligibility begins at age 65 for most people.
You are eligible for Medicare Part A at age 65 if you or your spouse has legally worked (and paid taxes) for at least 10 years in the U.S. During those years, you paid taxes toward your Part A hospital benefits. This is why most Americans pay no Part A premiums when they become eligible for Medicare. Part A mainly covers your hospital stays. If you have worked and paid taxes in the US then you will be issued Medicare Part A automatically. Even if you are employed with a company with over 20 employees it makes perfect sense to have this benefit.
If you have not worked and paid taxes the required 10 years, Part A may be available for you to purchase. You can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office for more information about buying Part A.
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Eligibility for Medicare Part B
You are eligible for Medicare Part B at age 65 as well. However, you must pay a monthly premium for Part B. This provides for your outpatient benefits such as doctor visits, lab work, surgery fees, and more. Check out our Part B page for more on what Part B covers. Our “Ultimate Medicare Quick Reference Guide” (see at bottom of this page) goes over the costs for Medicare Part B which is based on income.
Generally, if you are taking Social Security early you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part B unless you specifically ask Social Security NOT to enroll you.
If you are not taking Social Security, then the situation is murkier. For those who were born in the US, you can almost always enroll by either going online Medicare.gov, enrolling over the phone with Social Security, or asking us to enroll you. The same generally applies for US Citizens and Permanent Residents who’ve been in the US for a very long time. If one of the self-enrollment techniques fails to work, then you’ll likely need to go to a local social security office to apply.
Should that occur, please call us first so we can ensure you bring the proper paperwork and don’t have to wait in line multiple times.
Some people turning 65 still health insurance through an employer. They can delay their enrollment into Part B in favor of their group health insurance without fearing a late penalty if their employer has more than 20 employees. If you work for a smaller company, you must have both Medicare Part A and Part B to be covered by your company plan. In that case, you might need to evaluate whether the company plan makes sense for you or not.
If you delay enrollment into Part B, consult with a local insurance agent who specializes in Florida Medicare. He or she can explain the special election periods which you must use later on so that you won’t be subject to a late enrollment penalty.
This is confusing and that is one of the values we bring at Fl Medicare Agency. We know the rules and can take a great deal of stress out of the equation for you.
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Eligibility for Medicare Part C
Medicare Part C is another name for the Medicare Advantage program which is issued by private insurance companies instead of Original Medicare. You can get them from an agent, broker, or the company directly. Usually, these plans have smaller networks than Medicare, but some of them include built-in Part D coverage.
To be eligible for Part C, you must first be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B. You must also live in the plan’s service area.
Many people think that if they enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, they can drop their Part B and escape paying Part B premiums. This is NOT the case. You must have both A and B to even be eligible to enroll in either a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap plan. You must continue to be enrolled in Parts A and B during the entire time that you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Learn more about Part C Advantage plans here.
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Eligibility for Medicare Part D
You are eligible for Medicare Part D as long as you are actively enrolled in either Part A and/or B. You must also live in the Part D plans’ service area. Though Medicare Part D is voluntary, we strongly recommend it if you have no other drug coverage. Part D provides your insurance against future catastrophic
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Find out about your Medicare Eligibility
Determining your Medicare eligibility is sometimes tricky. We get many questions about how to qualify when to enroll in Medicare, and how to set up Medicare supplement insurance. Though the process may seem overwhelming to you, our experts deal with these processes every day. We can guide you easily through the process.
You are not alone – let a Florida Medicare Agency licensed agent to assist you in making this entire process easier.
Call us or click the button below to request a free consultation!
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Get Your Free Copy of the “Ultimate Medicare Quick Reference Guide” from Florida Medicare Agency!
This guide helps you learn about the different parts of the Medicare program, including Medicare Part A and Part B (together, they are often called “Original Medicare”), Part C (often called “Medicare Advantage”) and Part D (the part of Medicare that covers your prescription medications).
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We understand that Medicare matters can get quite complicated. It is better to get help understanding Medicare before you sign up for a plan. With our help, you will have in-depth health insurance knowledge of the benefits offered by basic and supplement plans.
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This website and its contents are for informational purposes only. Nothing on the website should ever be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult with your medical provider regarding diagnosis or treatment for a health condition, including decisions about the correct medication for your condition, as well as prior to undertaking any specific exercise or dietary routine.
Florida Health Agency is a licensed health insurance agency certified to sell Medicare products. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.
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