Eligibility at age 65
You qualify for Medicare when you turn 65 if you are:
- A U.S. citizen, or
- A permanent legal resident who has lived in the United States for at least 5 continuous years
You do not need to be retired to enroll in Medicare. Many people continue working past 65 and still sign up for Medicare.
Premium-free Part A: You qualify for premium-free Part A if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years). If you have fewer quarters, you can still buy Part A, but you'll pay a monthly premium.
Eligibility under age 65
You can qualify for Medicare before age 65 in these situations:
- Disability — If you've received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, you automatically get Medicare. The 24-month count starts from your first disability payment.
- End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) — If you have permanent kidney failure requiring regular dialysis or a kidney transplant, you can qualify at any age.
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) — If you've been diagnosed with ALS, you qualify for Medicare as soon as your SSDI benefits begin — no 24-month waiting period.
Still working at 65?
If you're still employed and covered by an employer group health plan when you turn 65, your enrollment decisions depend on the size of your employer:
| Employer size | What to do |
|---|---|
| 20+ employees | Your employer plan is primary. You can delay Part B without penalty. Sign up for Part A (it's free) to supplement your employer plan. When you retire or lose coverage, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period for Part B. |
| Fewer than 20 employees | Medicare becomes your primary insurance at 65. You should enroll in both Part A and Part B during your IEP, even if you keep your employer plan as secondary coverage. |
COBRA is not creditable coverage. If you're on COBRA when you turn 65, it does not count as employer coverage for avoiding the Part B late enrollment penalty. Enroll in Medicare during your IEP.
Spouse eligibility
If you haven't worked enough quarters to qualify on your own, you may be eligible based on your spouse's (or ex-spouse's) work record:
- Current spouse — You can qualify if your spouse has 40+ quarters of Medicare-taxed work and you've been married at least one year.
- Divorced spouse — You can qualify on your ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are currently unmarried, and your ex-spouse is at least 62.
- Surviving spouse — You may qualify on your deceased spouse's work record.
How to apply in Colorado
You can apply for Medicare through the Social Security Administration:
- Online — Apply at ssa.gov/medicare. This is the fastest method.
- By phone — Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778)
- In person — Visit your local Social Security office. Colorado has offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Greeley, Durango, and other cities.
Apply early: You can apply up to 3 months before your 65th birthday. Applying in the first month of your IEP ensures coverage starts the month you turn 65.
Automatic enrollment
If you're already receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits when you turn 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail about 3 months before your 65th birthday.
If you don't want Part B (for example, because you have employer coverage), you can decline it by following the instructions that come with your card. Otherwise, the Part B premium will be automatically deducted from your Social Security check.