Who can get Medicare?

U.S. citizens and legal residents

Legal residents must live in the U.S. for at least 5 years in a row, including the 5 years just before applying for Medicare.

You must also meet one

of the following requirements:

••Age 65 or older  ••Younger than 65 with a qualifying disability

••Any age with a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease or ALS

How do you enroll?

••You should be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B if you

are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when you

become eligible. You’ll receive your Medicare card in the mail.

••You need to enroll in Medicare yourself if you aren’t receiving Social Security

benefits when you become eligible. Go to SSA.gov/Medicare to enroll online,

or call or visit your local Social Security office

Turning 65

You are eligible for Medicare at

age 65.

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is 7 months long. It includes the month you turn 65, the 3 months before and the 3 months after. It begins and ends a month earlier if your birthday is the first day of the month.

Sign up early.

Coverage begins the first day of your 65th birthday month if your enrollment is completed during the first 3 months of your IEP. It begins the month before if your birthday is on the first. Your coverage start date may be delayed if you sign up later.

You have choices.

You may enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Medicare Part B (medical insurance) or both. You may have other coverage choices once you enroll in Medicare, such as Medicare Advantage plan ( Part C ), a prescription drug plan ( Part D ) or a Medicare supplement insurance plan.