Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and certain younger individuals with disabilities. It plays a vital role in providing health coverage for millions of Americans, but understanding when Medicare starts can be confusing. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of the basics of Medicare, including when you can start receiving benefits.
When Do You Become Eligible for Medicare?
In general, most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65. It doesn’t matter if you are currently employed or retired; if you turn 65 and meet the other criteria (which include being a U.S. citizen), you are eligible to enroll in Medicare. For those who suffer from certain disabilities or illnesses such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), eligibility can begin at an earlier age, as young as 18 months old.
When Can You Start Receiving Benefits?
Once you become eligible for Medicare, you can start receiving benefits three months before your 65th birthday. This “initial enrollment period” (IEP) lasts seven months and begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 and ends three months after that date. You can apply for Original Medicare (Parts A & B) during this time. You can also sign up for Part D prescription drug coverage and Medigap plans during this period as well. If you don’t sign up during your IEP, there will still be other chances to apply later on, but there may be additional costs associated with signing up outside of the initial enrollment period window. That’s why it’s important to understand when your IEP is, so that you don’t miss out on getting coverage at the best possible rate.
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