You cannot get Medicare at 62 just because of your age

Medicare may be able to access begins at 65 for most people, and age alone does not lower that threshold. However, you may be able to get Medicare before 65 if you meet one of three conditions: you have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). If none of these explore to you at 62, you will need to wait until 65 or find other health coverage in the meantime.

The key is understanding which path, if any, applies to your situation. This matters because the coverage you choose now affects your costs later — waiting until 65 to sign up without a good reason can result in permanent penalties on your premiums.

Key Takeaways

  • You can get Medicare before 65 only if you receive Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, have end-stage renal disease, or have ALS.
  • If you become disabled and start receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare coverage begins automatically 24 months after your disability payments start.
  • People with ESRD or ALS can get Medicare regardless of age, but you must meet the specific medical criteria and enroll through Social Security.
  • If you are 62 and do not meet these conditions, you need other coverage until 65 — the Affordable Care Act marketplace, COBRA, or a spouse's employer plan are common options.
  • Delaying Medicare enrollment after you become may be able to access can result in a permanent increase to your Part B and Part D premiums.

Early Medicare through disability: the 24-month rule

If you are approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you become may be able to access for Medicare after you have been receiving disability payments for 24 months. This is the most common way people under 65 get Medicare. The 24 months starts from the date your disability benefits begin, not from the date you applied.

Once those 24 months have passed, Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) start automatically. You do not need to take any action — Social Security will enroll you. You will receive your Medicare card in the mail about three months before your coverage begins.

If you are currently working and earning above the substantial gainful activity limit (the income threshold that determines whether Social Security considers you disabled), you will not may have access to for SSDI. The amount changes each year; Social Security publishes the current limit on its website. Even if you are working part-time, your earnings may disqualify you or reduce your benefits.

Early Medicare if you have end-stage renal disease or ALS

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) means your kidneys no longer work well enough to sustain life without dialysis or a transplant. If you have ESRD, you can get Medicare at any age, even if you are not receiving disability benefits. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and you must have worked long enough to have earned Social Security credits (or be the spouse or child of someone who has).

You need to enroll through Social Security, not through Medicare directly. Bring medical documentation of your ESRD diagnosis to your local Social Security office or explore online at ssa.gov. Your coverage typically begins the first day of the month in which you start dialysis or the month after a kidney transplant.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, qualifies you for Medicare at any age without the usual waiting period. Unlike SSDI, you do not have to wait 24 months — you become may be able to access for Medicare the same month your ALS benefits begin. You still must meet the work credit requirement and enroll through Social Security with medical proof of your ALS diagnosis.

What to do if you are 62 and not yet may be able to access for Medicare

If you do not meet any of the three early-may be able to access conditions, you have several options for health coverage until you turn 65. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace lets you compare plans and enroll year-round if you have a may have access to life event — turning 62 is not one, but losing employer coverage, moving states, or a change in household income are. Open enrollment runs from November through January each year, and you can enroll then regardless of your situation.

If you recently left a job with health insurance, COBRA lets you keep that employer plan for up to 18 months, though you pay the full premium plus a small administrative fee. This is expensive but useful if you want to stay with your current doctors. Your former employer must offer it if the company has 20 or more employees.

If your spouse still works and has employer coverage, you may be able to join their plan. Employer plans cannot deny you or charge you more because of age or health status, so this is often the most affordable option if available.

How early enrollment affects your Medicare costs later

If you wait until after 65 to enroll in Medicare Part B without a valid reason, you will pay a permanent penalty. The penalty is 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for each 12-month period you were may be able to access but did not enroll. If you delay for two years, you pay 20 percent more for as long as you have Medicare — this does not go away.

The same penalty applies to Part D (prescription drug coverage). If you go 63 days or longer without creditable drug coverage and then enroll in Part D, you pay an extra amount each month for as long as you have the plan.

The exception is if you have creditable coverage — health insurance that is at least as good as Medicare Part B or Part D. Employer plans, COBRA, and most ACA plans count as creditable coverage. If you have creditable coverage, you can delay Medicare enrollment without penalty. Ask your current plan whether it is creditable before you turn 65.

Steps to take now if you think you might may have access to early

If you are 62 and believe you may may have access to for early Medicare through disability, ESRD, or ALS, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. Have your medical records ready — you will need documentation of your condition from your doctor. Social Security will tell you whether you meet the medical criteria and, if you do, walk you through the enrollment process.

If you are explore for disability for the first time, the process typically takes three to six months. You can explore online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person. Many people are denied the first time; if that happens, you have the right to appeal. Some people hire a disability lawyer to help with the appeal, though this is not required.

If you are not may be able to access for early Medicare, write down your 65th birthday and mark your calendar for three months before. That is when you should enroll in Medicare to avoid penalties. If you are unsure whether you have creditable coverage, contact your current health plan and ask them directly.

Questions to ask your doctor or Social Security

Before you contact Social Security, ask your doctor: "Do I meet the medical criteria for SSDI, ESRD, or ALS?" Your doctor does not make the final decision — Social Security does — but your doctor's documentation is what Social Security uses to decide. If your doctor says you do not meet the criteria, Social Security will likely deny your claim.

When you contact Social Security, ask: "Based on my medical records, do I may have access to for early Medicare?" and "If I am approved, when does my coverage start?" Also ask whether you need to do anything to enroll or whether it happens automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am 62 and on disability but have not been receiving benefits for 24 months yet?

You are not yet may be able to access for Medicare, but you will be once you reach the 24-month mark. Mark your calendar and watch for your Medicare card to arrive about three months before your coverage begins. In the meantime, make sure you have other health coverage so you do not go uninsured.

Can I get Medicare at 62 if I am married to someone over 65?

No. Your spouse's age does not make you may be able to access. However, you may be able to join your spouse's employer health plan if they still work, or you can enroll in an ACA marketplace plan. Once you turn 65, you will become may be able to access for Medicare based on your own age.

If I am denied for disability, can I try again?

Yes. You have the right to appeal a denial. Most people are denied the first time. You can appeal within 60 days of the denial letter. Many people hire a disability lawyer for the appeal process; the lawyer is paid only if you win, and the fee comes from your back pay.

Does working part-time affect my chances of getting early Medicare through disability?

Yes. If you earn above the substantial gainful activity limit, Social Security will not approve you for SSDI. Even if you are approved, working too much can cause your benefits to stop. The income limit changes yearly; check ssa.gov for the current amount.

What happens to my health coverage when I turn 65 and become may be able to access for Medicare?

Your other coverage does not automatically stop, but you should enroll in Medicare Parts A and B when you turn 65. If you have an ACA plan, you can keep it and use it alongside Medicare, though this is usually not cost-effective. If you have COBRA, it ends when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare.