Medicare health insurance is low-cost healthcare that can help seniors afford medical costs. If you are approaching retirement age or are battling certain medical conditions or disabilities, you may qualify for coverage from this long term health insurance program.
Every American is eligible to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65 years old. This is the time when most people are thinking about retiring. Retiring from your place of employment can result in losing access to group insurance.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows you to enroll even if you are younger than 65 if you have a qualifying medical condition.
However, in order for you to do so, the Social Security Administration (SSA) must recognize the disability or fatal health condition in order for you or your family member to qualify.
In order to sign up for Medicare, you must be a U.S. citizen. You are a U.S. citizen if you were born:
1. In the country or one of its territories, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
2. In a foreign country but have been naturalized as a citizen.
3. In a foreign country and have at least one parent who is an American citizen.
As a non-U.S. citizen, the following statements must be true:
- You reside in the country legally as a permanent resident, and
- You have lived in the country for at least 5 consecutive years.
You have a limited time to enroll when you first become eligible. If you miss this time frame, you will have to wait, and you may have additional costs due to the delay.
