Medicare Eligibility Age
For most people, the age for Medicare is 65. Sign up before your 65th birthday to get covered as soon as possible.

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The Medicare eligibility age is 65, unless you qualify sooner because of certain health conditions
But don’t wait until after your 65th birthday to sign up for Medicare. You can and should sign up a few months before you turn 65
Here’s what you need to know about your Medicare eligibility age and when to sign up.
What's the Medicare eligibility age?
For most people, Medicare eligibility starts at age 65. There are over 58 million people who qualify for Medicare based on age as of March 2023 — about 88% of all Medicare beneficiaries
It’s also possible to qualify for Medicare before age 65 if you have certain disabilities.
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Do I automatically get Medicare when I turn 65?
Some people automatically get Medicare when they turn 65 — but not everyone does.
If you’re already receiving Social Security payments as you turn 65, you’ll be automatically signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B when you become eligible. (Even though the full retirement age for Social Security is 67 for people born in 1960 or later, you can start claiming reduced benefits as early as age 62
So if you started taking Social Security payments early, you’ll automatically get Medicare when you turn 65
But you won’t automatically get Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) or a Medicare Advantage plan
Enroll in Medicare before your 65th birthday
You become eligible for Medicare at age 65, but you should sign up before that if you want your coverage to start as soon as possible
You can sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period, which starts months before you turn 65 and lasts for seven months. For most people, it starts three months before the month you turn 65
If your birthday is on the first of the month, your initial enrollment period starts earlier — four months before your birthday month, rather than three
If you enroll before the month you turn 65, your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month
If you miss the initial enrollment period, you might face late enrollment penalties when you sign up later