Who is eligible for Medicare?

• Individuals entitled to Social Security retirement insurance and 65 years of age and older;

• Individuals entitled to Social Security disability benefits for not less than 24 months;

• Individuals entitled to Railroad Retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement disability benefits;

• Individuals diagnosed with end stage renal disease;

• Individuals with ALS;

• A federal, state or local government employee who is not eligible for Social Security retirement or disability benefits but have worked and paid the Medicare Part A “hospital insurance” portion of the employee’s FICA taxes for a sufficient period of time. (Federal employees became subject to the hospital insurance portion of FICA in January 1983. Most newly hired state and local employees, not otherwise covered under Social Security, started paying the hospital insurance portion as of April 1986.

• Note: Individuals who are not otherwise eligible for Medicare, but who are over age 65 may purchase Medicare coverage by paying a monthly premium.

Medicare eligibility for Social Security and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries begins on the first day of the first month in which the individual attains age 65. This is also the date upon which individuals not otherwise eligible for Medicare are entitled and may purchase coverage.

Individuals receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits become eligible for Medicare coverage in the 25th month of receiving those benefits. Individuals who have end stage renal disease usually become eligible on the first day of the third month of a course of renal dialysis treatments. Individuals with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) become eligible when they are eligible for Social Security disability benefits, without a twenty-four month waiting period.