You may be eligible for Medicare if you are a US citizen or permanent legal resident for the last five years. You must also be one of the following:

• You are age 65 or older  
• You have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for at least 24 months 
• You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease) 
• You have End‑Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), meaning permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant

You’re eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan once you’re enrolled in Original Medicare.  Learn more about Medicare Advantage eligibility 

Yes. Preexisting conditions, also known as previous health conditions, do not affect your Medicare eligibility and coverage. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is available to any individual age 65 or older, younger than 65 with a disability, or any age with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

If you have received disability insurance payments from Social Security or the railroad retirement board for 24 consecutive months, you will be eligible for Medicare at the beginning of your 25th month.

Your Original Medicare Part A and Part B coverage is effective at the start of month 25 of disability. If you choose, you can enroll in more coverage through a private insurance company. You can pick a plan during your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before your 25th month of receiving Social Security disability benefits, includes that month, and continues for three months after.

You will enroll automatically. You should get your Original Medicare card and details in the mail three months prior to month 25 on disability. If you get Social Security payments, your Part B premium will be paid from your balance once your coverage starts. If you choose, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with a private insurance company. You can pick a plan during your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before your 25th month of receiving Social Security disability benefits, includes that month, and continues for three months after.

If you miss your Original Medicare initial enrollment period, you can sign up for Original Medicare Part A and Part B during Medicare’s General Enrollment Period from Jan 1 – March 31 each year. If you sign up during this time, your coverage will start the month after you enroll. Depending on your situation, you may not be able to sign up for private insurance Medicare Advantage plans at this time. You will have to wait until the next annual enrollment period. You may also have to pay late enrollment fees unless your current coverage type waives it.

You can enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B through the Social Security Administration. You can sign up online, by calling 1 800-772-1213, or by visiting your local SSA office.  

To enroll in Original Medicare, you’ll need the following:  

• Your Social Security number (SSN) 
• Place of birth 
• Information about any current or prior health coverage (if applicable)

 Yes, there are several programs that can help you enroll in Original Medicare, or you may have a trusted family member assist with your application.  

You can contact State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) for help navigating the Medicare system at 877-839-2675. You can also contact your state’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), a free service that helps you choose and enroll in a Medicare plan.

Some people choose to delay their Part B enrollment because they have coverage through their job or their spouses. Once your coverage ends, you have eight (8) months to enroll in Part B. 

To enroll in Part B after a delay, you’ll need to apply with the Social Security Administration to request enrollment in your Part B coverage. For most people, your coverage starts on the first day of the month after you enroll.

You don’t have to enroll in Part A right away if you have qualifying coverage, but delaying Part B without other coverage may result in a late enrollment penalty.

Get more info on Part B costs

A special enrollment period (SEP) is a time of your life when you’ve experienced a major event that qualifies you to enroll in Medicare Advantage plan or change your coverage outside of the AEP and MA OEP windows. 

Some special enrollment periods may include: 

• You moved and your plan isn’t in your new area  
• You moved back to the United States after living abroad  
• You’re no longer eligible for Medicaid  
• You left coverage from your employer  
• You recently left a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program 
• Your plan changed its contract with Medicare  
• Medicare ended your plan’s contract  
• You’re enrolled in a Special Needs Plan (SNP)  
• You’re enrolled in SPAP  

For the full list of special enrollment period events and what they mean for you, please visit Medicare.gov.

If you miss your initial enrollment period, you can sign up for Original Medicare Part A and Part B during Medicare’s General Enrollment Period from Jan 1 – March 31 each year. If you sign up during this time, your coverage begins the month after you apply. Depending on your situation, you may not be able to sign up for private insurance Medicare Advantage plans at this time. You may have to wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7. You may also have to pay late enrollment fees.

According to Medicare.gov, “If you miss your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up. You may have to pay a monthly late enrollment fee for as long as you have Part B coverage. The penalty goes up the longer you wait. You may also have to pay a penalty if you have to pay a Part A premium, also called ‘Premium-Part A.’” This only applies if you do not have other existing coverage.

Get more info on expected fees and costs

Whether you are working or not, you will be eligible for your Medicare benefits when you turn 65 or qualify due to disability. You’ll have to decide if you want to enroll in Original Medicare or stay on your job’s plan.

Your answer may differ for Original Medicare Part A and Part B. For Part A (hospital insurance), if you’ve been paying for Medicare via payroll deductions throughout your career, you’ll generally have no premium. This means you may want to enroll in Part A when you’re first eligible. For Part B (medical insurance), most people will have a standard monthly premium when they sign up. It is $202.90 in 2026. To find the best fit for you, talk with your employer, benefits administrator, or a licensed sales agent.

Your insurance company will send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September, whether there are changes or no changes to your current plan for the next plan year. This letter will detail the changes in coverage, cost, service area, and benefits that will take effect in January. If these changes no longer meet your needs, you can shop for a new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period from Oct 15 – Dec 7. 

No, prescription drug coverage isn’t required. However, if you don’t have creditable prescription drug coverage (coverage that’s at least as good as Medicare’s) and you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you enroll later.   

You can get prescription drug coverage through a stand-alone Medicare drug plan (Part D) or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, offered by private insurance companies.

To help manage costs, Medicare Advantage plans usually enter contracts with a network of doctors and hospitals. That means you’ll generally pay less when you receive care from doctors and specialists who accept your plan. Some plans have large networks of approved doctors and hospitals, so be sure to check if yours are covered on the plan before you enroll. If you choose an HMO plan, you may need a referral to use an in-network specialist, but generally referrals should not be required on PPO plans.

If you want to switch to a different Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug plan, you’ll be able to make that change during the Annual Enrollment period each year from October 15 to December 7. You can also make a one-time change to your Medicare Advantage Plan during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1st to March 31st. Please note that you cannot enroll for the first time during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period, but you may during Annual Enrollment. Outside of those windows, you’ll need to have a qualifying life event to be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period to make a change. 

Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans may be ideal for people who want an all-in-one plan that will cover their health and prescription needs in one. There are many Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans to choose from, so enrollees can ensure they choose the one that covers added benefits and services they need to help maintain their health and stay within their budget. 

No, if your plan is still offered for the upcoming year, you don’t have to do anything to keep your current coverage. As long as you remain eligible, your plan will automatically renew each year. However, plan costs and benefits may change annually, so it’s important to review any notices your plan sends you.

Yes. You keep your Part A and B coverage with Original Medicare. Your Medicare Supplement Insurance plan helps pay out-of-pocket costs for covered medical services.

Medicare Supplement Insurance helps pay out-of-pocket costs not paid by Original Medicare (Parts A and B), like your Part A deductibles and co-insurance. Typically, plans with higher premiums may have lower out-of-pocket costs when you receive care for Part A and Part B covered services. With some plans, you may have a deductible you must meet before the plan begins to pay for covered Medicare costs.

Medicare Supplement plans don’t typically cover prescription drugs, dental, vision, or hearing.

There are no network restrictions with a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan. You may visit any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. You can see specialists without referrals. 

The cost of your premium depends on the plan you choose. Your age, location, sex, and other items may be a factor as well. You must continue to pay your Original Medicare Part B premium as well.

Medicare Supplement insurance plans are sold year-round. You can apply to buy a Medicare Supplement insurance plan any time after you join Medicare Part B. There is no need for a special enrollment period. In many cases, pricing will be more favorable if you purchase a plan during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period lasts 6 months and begins the month you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B. 

You can switch or cancel your Medicare Supplement plan at any time for any reason. In some instances, you may be required to go through underwriting for your new Medicare Supplement Insurance plan if you are outside a guaranteed issue right. 

These plans make your costs more predictable when choosing to receive your Parts A and B coverage through Original Medicare. They are great for people who prefer to pay a higher monthly premium in exchange for lower out-of-pocket costs when they receive care. These plans are also nice for people who want the flexibility to choose any doctor, hospital, or facility they want to use and can afford a higher premium in exchange for this flexibility.