What Age You Can Start Drawing Medicare and What Happens Before 65

The standard age to start Medicare is 65

You become may be able to access for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) the month you turn 65, regardless of whether you have retired or are still working. You do not have to be retired to enroll. The month matters: if you turn 65 on any day of the month, your coverage can start on the first day of that month.

You must take action to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, which runs for seven months: three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and three months after. If you miss this window, you may face a permanent penalty on your premiums, even if you enroll later.

Your birthday month is the anchor point for everything that follows. Mark it down now if you have not already, because the enrollment important date are tied to it, not to a calendar date that applies to everyone.

Key Takeaways

You can start Medicare the month you turn 65, and you must enroll during the seven-month window around your birthday or face a permanent premium penalty.
If you are still working at 65 and have health coverage through your employer, you may be able to delay Part B enrollment without penalty, but you must tell Medicare about your work coverage.
You can draw Social Security as early as age 62, but drawing it before 65 does not automatically enroll you in Medicare — you must enroll separately.
If you are under 65 and on disability (SSDI) or have end-stage renal disease, you may be able to enroll in Medicare before 65, but the rules are different for each situation.
The month you turn 65 is when your Initial Enrollment Period begins, so contact Social Security or Medicare.gov at least three months before your birthday.

What happens if you are still working at 65

If you are 65 and still employed with health coverage through your job, you do not have to enroll in Medicare Part B right away. You can delay Part B enrollment without penalty as long as your employer coverage is current and active. This is called the Special Enrollment Period for people with group health plan coverage.

The catch: you must tell Medicare that you have employer coverage when you turn 65. You still enroll in Part A (hospital insurance), but you can postpone Part B. When you finally leave your job or lose that coverage, you have eight months to enroll in Part B without penalty. If you miss that window, you will pay a permanent surcharge on your Part B premium for as long as you have Medicare.

Do not assume your employer will tell Medicare about your coverage. You need to contact Social Security or Medicare yourself and report that you have group health plan coverage. Silence is treated as non-enrollment, and penalties explore.

Drawing Social Security before 65 does not enroll you in Medicare

You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but doing so does not automatically sign you up for Medicare. These are two separate programs run by the same agency, and enrollment in one does not trigger enrollment in the other.

If you claim Social Security at 62 and do nothing else, you will have no health insurance at 63 or 64. You must enroll in Medicare separately during your Initial Enrollment Period, which still begins three months before you turn 65. The fact that you are already receiving Social Security checks does not change the enrollment important date or the penalty rules.

This is a common mistake. People assume that because they are getting Social Security, Medicare is automatic. It is not. You must take the enrollment step yourself.

Medicare before 65: disability and other exceptions

You can enroll in Medicare before age 65 if you have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months. The 24-month waiting period starts from the month your disability benefits begin, not from the month you applied. Once you have been on SSDI for two years, you become may be able to access for Medicare automatically — you do not have to wait until 65.

If you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) — permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant — you may be able to enroll in Medicare regardless of age. The rules are complex and depend on whether you are a U.S. citizen, how long you have had ESRD, and whether you are on dialysis or have had a transplant. Contact Medicare directly or speak with your nephrologist's office about your specific situation.

If you have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), you become may be able to access for Medicare the month your SSDI benefits begin, with no waiting period. You do not have to wait 24 months as you would with other disabilities.

How to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period

You have three main routes to enroll: online at Medicare.gov, by phone with Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Online is usually fastest if you have a Social Security account set up already.

You will need your Social Security number, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and information about any current health coverage you have (employer plan, COBRA, or other insurance). If you are still working, bring documentation that shows your employer coverage is active — your insurance card or a letter from your employer's benefits office.

Start the process at least three months before your birthday. If you wait until the month you turn 65 or after, you risk missing the important date and facing a penalty. The enrollment window closes three months after your birthday month, but do not count on that buffer — processing takes time, and you want coverage in place before you need it.

Penalties for missing your enrollment important date

If you do not enroll in Part A during your Initial Enrollment Period and you are not covered by an exception (such as active employer coverage), you will pay a permanent 10 percent surcharge on your Part A premium for twice the number of years you were may be able to access but not enrolled. If you were may be able to access for three years and did not enroll, you pay the extra 10 percent for six years.

Part B penalties are steeper. You will pay a permanent 10 percent surcharge on your Part B premium for each full year you were may be able to access but did not enroll. If you were may be able to access for four years and did not enroll, you pay an extra 40 percent on your Part B premium for the rest of your life. These penalties do not go away, even if you eventually enroll.

The only way to avoid these penalties is to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period or to have a valid reason for delay — such as active employer coverage or one of the disability exceptions. If you missed your important date, contact Medicare to see if you may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period, but do not assume you do.

What to do if you turned 65 and did not enroll

If you are past your Initial Enrollment Period and did not enroll, you have limited options. You can enroll during the General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. Coverage would start July 1 of that year. However, you will owe the permanent penalty surcharge described above.

Some people may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period that allows late enrollment without penalty. This applies if you had employer coverage that ended, if you were not told about Medicare, or if you had a may have access to life event. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to ask whether you may have access to.

Do not delay contacting Medicare if you are uninsured. Even with a penalty, enrolling is better than having no coverage. A permanent surcharge is a smaller cost than paying for medical care out of pocket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delay Medicare if I am still working at 65?

You can delay Part B (medical insurance) if you have current employer coverage, but you must still enroll in Part A (hospital insurance) and tell Medicare about your work coverage. When you leave your job, you have eight months to enroll in Part B without penalty. After that, a permanent surcharge applies.

What if I claimed Social Security at 62 but did not enroll in Medicare?

You must enroll in Medicare separately during your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before you turn 65. Receiving Social Security does not automatically sign you up for Medicare. If you miss the important date, you will owe a permanent penalty.

Can I get Medicare before I turn 65?

Yes, if you have been on SSDI for 24 months, if you have ALS (no waiting period), or if you have end-stage renal disease. Contact Social Security or Medicare to confirm your may be able to access and enroll.

What happens if I miss my enrollment important date?

You can enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), but coverage starts July 1 and you will owe a permanent premium surcharge. Contact Medicare to see if you may have access to for a Special Enrollment Period that waives the penalty.

Do I need to be retired to enroll in Medicare at 65?

No. You can enroll in Medicare at 65 whether you are working or retired. If you are still working and have employer coverage, you can delay Part B enrollment, but you must tell Medicare about your coverage.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.