Get started with Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

Some people get Medicare automatically, others have to actively sign up -- it depends if you start getting retirement or disability benefits from Social Security before you turn 65. 

What do Social Security benefits have to do with getting Medicare?

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Get basic information & next steps

Start with the basics and then get specific steps to follow.

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Getting Social Security Benefits before 65

Follow this path to sign up for Medicare if you’re getting retirement or disability benefits from Social Security at least 4 months before turning 65

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Getting Social Security Benefits after 65

Follow this path to sign up for Medicare if you’re waiting until 65 or older to get retirement benefits from Social Security