To be eligible for Medicare, you must be age 65 or older or diagnosed with a qualifying disability. Medicare eligibility requirements are simple, but there are some important things you need to know before you become eligible. These are the rules of Medicare eligibility.
To be eligible for Medicare, you must be age 65 or older or diagnosed with a qualifying disability. Medicare eligibility requirements are simple, but there are some important things you need to know before you become eligible. These are the rules of Medicare eligibility.
To be eligible for Medicare, the normal requirement is that you must be age 65 or older. Some people qualify at younger ages due to disabilities, but in order to do so, you must collect Social Security disability benefits for a minimum of 24 months. The only exceptions to this apply for people who have been diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. To qualify based on End Stage Renal Disease, an applicant must have received dialysis treatment for several months and have an active diagnosis from their physician. People who qualify because of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis only need to apply for benefits and they will receive them soon after.
Once you determine that you are eligible for Medicare, you can begin the enrollment process. The best time to enroll is during your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins 3 months before your 65th birthday or 24th month of receiving Social Security disability benefits. The period ends 4 months later, totalling 7 months wherein you can enroll in Medicare benefits. To get started with the enrollment process, all you need to do is contact Social Security. Through their website or a local office, you can submit an application.
If you cannot enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can also opt to enroll during the Open Enrollment Period. This Period occurs every year, so you always have an annual opportunity to enroll. If you do not have one of these periods near and you need to enroll suddenly, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. These are granted to people with qualifying life circumstances, so speak with an insurance professional to see if you qualify.
If you wish to enroll in an Advantage plan under Part C of the Medicare program, the eligibility requirements are the same as Original Medicare. The only difference is that you will be getting your benefits through a private insurance company, rather than directly through Medicare. To determine if you are eligible for Medicare Advantage, give Weinstein Wealth Insurance Solutions a call.
If you will soon be eligible for Medicare, it’s never too early to get started with preparation. We can help you discover which Medicare plan fits you best, then we’ll guide you through the enrollment process. Contact us today to get started with a quote.
