- Country
- United States
- Official name
- Medicare (Parts A, B, C and D)
- Run by
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Enrollment is through the Social Security Administration.
- Type
- Health care
Federal health insurance for people 65 or older, and for some younger people with disabilities, kidney failure or ALS.
Who it is for
People 65 or older, and some younger people with disabilities.
Eligibility
People 65 or older who meet citizenship or residency requirements.
People under 65 who have received Social Security disability benefits, or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits, for 24 months.
People of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure needing dialysis or a transplant) who meet work-history rules, and people with ALS.
SSI on its own does not qualify you for Medicare.
What you get
Health coverage, not cash. Part A covers hospital care, Part B covers doctors and outpatient care, Part D covers prescription drugs, and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are an alternative way to get your coverage. Premiums and costs apply.
How to apply
Sign up through Social Security at ssa.gov/medicare. Some people are enrolled automatically.
Official sources
Last checked against official sources: