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  1. Home
  2. Medicare
  3. Introduction to Medicare
  4. Medicare Eligibility
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  • Introduction to Medicare
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    • Original Medicare
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  • FAQ

Medicare Eligibility


It's important to know what to do when you're eligible for Medicare.

Who is eligible for Medicare?  


Medicare Initial Enrollment Period  


What if I continue to work past age 65?  


I'm on disability. When will I be eligible for Medicare?  


What do I need to do when I'm eligible for Medicare?  


What are my coverage choices after I have Medicare?  

Who is eligible for Medicare?


Medicare is available to United States citizens and legal residents who have lived in the United States for at least 5 years in a row. Medicare is individual insurance. It doesn't cover spouses or dependents.


You may become eligible to receive Medicare benefits based on any one of the following:

 

  • You are age 65 or older.
  • You are younger than 65 with a qualifying disability. Medicare eligibility begins after 24 months of receiving Social Security disability benefits.
  • Any age with a diagnosis of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's Disease)


To qualify as a legal resident, you must have lived in the United States for at least 5 years in a row before applying for Medicare.

Back to Top  

Medicare Initial Enrollment Period


Around your 65th birthday you'll have a 7-month window of time when you can sign up for Medicare. It's called your Initial Enrollment Period—or IEP for short. Your IEP includes your 65th birthday month, the 3 months before and the 3 months after.
 

Learn more about enrolling in Medicare for the first time at age 65  

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Get a Plan Recommendation

 

Tell us a little about your insurance and health care needs, and UnitedHealthcare will recommend UnitedHealthcare Medicare insurance plans that may be a good fit for you.

Get a Plan Recommendation

What if I work past age 65?


You still have a Medicare enrollment decision to make.


If you plan to keep working or you have employer health coverage through a spouse, you have some options to consider when signing up for Medicare. Depending on your situation, you may or may not be able to delay Medicare enrollment.


Understand your options for Medicare enrollment when working past 65  

 

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) happens when you're turning 65 whether you're still going to work or not. Be sure to know your IEP dates and plan ahead.

Back to Top  

I'm on disability. When will I be eligible for Medicare?


You may be eligible for Medicare before age 65 if you have a qualifying disability. Eligibility usually starts after you've received disability benefits for 24 months. You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. You may make other coverage choices during your IEP. Your 7-month IEP includes the month you receive your 25th disability check plus the 3 months before and the 3 months after.


Learn more about Medicare eligibility due to disability  

Back to Top  

What do I need to do when I'm eligible for Medicare?


After you become eligible for Medicare it's time to enroll. You will need to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B first before you can enroll in any additional coverage.
 

Some people are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) once they're eligible, but not everyone is.

 

You'll be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare if:
 

  • You're receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when you turn 65; or
  • You're eligible for Medicare because of a disability or medical condition.


You must enroll yourself in Original Medicare if:

  • You're not receiving Social Security benefits when you become eligible for Medicare.

 

There are three ways to enroll yourself in Medicare:
 

  1. Online at www.SocialSecurity.gov  .
  2. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  3. In-person at your local Social Security office.

Back to Top  

Next steps: Learn about the different Medicare coverage options


Once you're enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and/or Part B, you'll start to receive coverage from the federal government. At that point, you can also choose additional coverage from private insurance companies such as a Medicare Advantage plan, Part D prescription drug plan or Medicare supplement insurance plan. Take a look at the next page, Coverage Choices, to learn more about Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medicare supplement insurance plans, as well as how these different choices can work together.

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MO10050ST

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9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, Saturday

Already a member? Call the number on the back of your member ID card.

MO10050ST

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Last updated: 03/15/2023 at 12:01 AM CT | Y0066_AARPMedicarePlans_M Last updated: 03/15/2023 at 12:01 AM CT | Y0066_UHCMedicareSolutions_M
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