Please provide your zip code to see plans in your area.
Since 2011, we've helped more than 5 million people understand their Medicare coverage.
Find Medicare plans that fit your needs.*
Get coverage now!
* By shopping with our third-party insurance agency partners. You may be contacted by a licensed insurance agent from an independent agency that is not connected with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800– MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
A brief history of Medicare in America
How and why was Medicare launched? Credit goes to President Harry S Truman and his administration for making the idea of government-led health insurance a reality for older Americans.
What is the Medicare phone number and when should I use it?
Medicare beneficiaries can call an easy-to-remember toll-free number – 1-800-MEDICARE – for information that includes specific billing questions and questions about claims.
A guide to Medicare eligibility
Eligibility for Medicare coverage depends on factors that include your work history, health status, and residency status. Check your eligibility today.
How do I enroll in Medicare?
Learn how and when to enroll in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D coverage. Get plan information and a free quote today.
Important Medicare enrollment dates
Enrollment dates for Medicare are critical. Missing an enrollment date could cost you higher premiums down the line — or it could cost you coverage entirely.
Medicare Open Enrollment 2023 Guide
Our 2023 Medicare Open Enrollment Guide will walk you through sign-up dates, tips for choosing a plan, and more. Get the information you need today!
Medicare is the federal health insurance program created in 1965 to provide health coverage for Americans aged 65 and older.
The program – administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – was expanded in 1972 to cover people younger than 65 who have permanent disabilities, including those diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). And in 2001, Congress added amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a diagnosis that makes a person eligible for Medicare prior to age 65. Approximately 12% of the Medicare population – almost 8 million beneficiaries – are under 65.
Read: A brief history of Medicare in America
More than 64 million Americans are currently covered by Medicare, and funding for the program accounted for more than 4% of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2020. Total Medicare spending stood at about $830 billion that year, and is expected to grow to $1.78 trillion in 2031.
Each part of Medicare is funded differently (see Figure 7 in this resource).
Generally speaking, you are eligible for Medicare if one of the following applies:
In order to get Medicare Part A with no premium, you also need to have paid into the Medicare system. This means that you or your spouse (or a parent, if you’re enrolling as a disabled child) must have worked for at least ten years prior to enrolling in Medicare. If not, you’re still eligible, but will have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A.
Find out when you will be eligible for Medicare and how to enroll.
The Medicare program is comprised of four main parts:
For many, enrollment in Medicare happens at age 65, during the initial enrollment period (IEP) when Americans become eligible for Medicare. During the IEP, Americans can enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B (Original Medicare) and Part D prescription drug coverage. Those eligible for Original Medicare have the option of enrolling in Medicare Advantage. Many Medicare-eligible individuals also enrollee in Medigap coverage during this time – and under federal rules, Medigap coverage in every state is guaranteed issue during the IEP.
Learn how you can change Medicare coverage during Medicare open enrollment.
See the full list of Medicare enrollment dates throughout the year.