Can I get Medicare before age 65?

Medicare isn't just for people turning 65. There are three situations where you can qualify earlier than that. The most common is disability. If you've been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, commonly called SSDI, for 24 consecutive months, Medicare coverage kicks in automatically at the start of your 25th month. That two-year waiting period is one of the harder parts of the disability system, since it leaves a gap that many people fill with Medicaid or marketplace insurance in the meantime. The second situation is ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. If you're diagnosed with ALS, Medicare coverage begins the same month your SSDI payments start. There's no two-year wait. The third situation is End-Stage Renal Disease, meaning permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a transplant. In that case, you can apply for Medicare directly, and coverage typically begins after a short waiting period that depends on whether you're on dialysis or have had a transplant. Outside of these three situations, there's no general early enrollment option. If you're under 65 and don't fit one of these categories, Medicare isn't available to you yet. It's worth checking with a local Medicare counselor if you're unsure which path applies to your situation.

Related Medicare Resources

• Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
• Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
• Medicare Supplement Plan G
• Compare Medicare Plans