am I eligible for medicare health coverage?

in most cases, you're eligible at age 65 for parts a and b

For the vast majority of Americans who look forward to receiving Original Medicare health benefits, eligibility is as uncomplicated as celebrating your 65th birthday. But your eligibility to receive Medicare coverage without having to pay a premium – and your eligibility for other Medicare plans – depends on such factors as your work history and your health status.

Here's what you need to know:

medicare part A eligibility

Generally, you're eligible for Medicare Part A if you're 65 years old and have been a legal resident of the U.S. for at least five years. In fact, the government will automatically enroll you in Medicare Part A at no cost when you reach 65.

All you need to do is check your mail for your Medicare card, which should automatically arrive in the mail three months prior to your 65th birthday (or the 25th month of a disability). Find out why some people have to sign up for Part A.

Sound good? It's even better if you don't have to pay a premium for Part A coverage. You're eligible to receive Part A coverage premium-free if:

• You are 65 and you or your spouse has paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.
• You're not yet 65, but you're disabled and you've been receiving Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for two years.
• You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and are receiving dialysis.
• You have amylotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance.

If you (or your spouse) have not been paying Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, you'll still be eligible for Part A coverage, but you'll need to pay a premium – and your premium will depend on your work history. If you worked and paid into Medicare less than 10 years, you'll pay $254 a month. Your premium will be $461 a month if you've paid into Medicare less than 7 ½ years.

medicare part B eligibility

When you receive notification that you're eligible for Medicare Part A, you'll also be notified that you're eligible for Part B coverage, which is optional. If you enroll during an initial invitation period, Part B will kick in on your 65th birthday.

If you don't enroll during that period, you won't lose eligibility for Part B, but you will be penalized with an increased premium, which climbs 10 percent for each year that you're eligible but don't enroll in Part B.

medicare advantage eligibility

Your eligibility for Medicare Advantage is determined by some of the same criteria that apply to Original Medicare. To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 65 or – if you're not yet 65 – you'll have to prove that you've received Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement Board benefits for at least two years.
• Disclose whether you have have end-stage renal disease. If you have ERSD, you usually can't join a Medicare Advantage Plan, but definitely do your research, as you may be eligible under special circumstances. (You may, for instance be eligible if you've had a successful kidney transplant.)
• Live in an area that offers Medicare Advantage plans.
• Confirm that you're a U.S. citizen or permanent resident – or that you're a legally admitted non-citizen who has lived here for at least five years.
• Prove that you've paid FICA taxes for 10 or more years.

medicare part D eligibility

To be eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, you must be entitled to Medicare Part A benefits and/or enrolled in Medicare Part B. You must also live within your Part D plan's service area and you must not be enrolled in more than one Part D plan.

Like Part B, you are still eligible for Part D prescription drug coverage if you don't enroll when you're first eligible, but you may pay higher premiums if you enroll later on.

Medigap eligibility

If you're enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B, you're eligible to purchase a Medigap policy. The primary factor that will affect your ability to purchase the policy – regardless of your health – will be whether you enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period.