Medicare Benefits for People with Disabilities: Eligibility & Early Enrollment

Ordinarily, you have to be at least 65 years old to receive benefits from Medicare, the government-run health insurance plan. But younger people can begin receiving benefits early if they qualify as disabled.

Social Security

• Disability eligibility for Medicare is tied to disability status for Social Security. Social Security defines a disability as a medical condition likely to last at least a year or end in death.

Waiting Period

• For people under 65, in most cases, you will have to receive Social Security disability benefits for two years before you become eligible for Medicare.

ALS

• There are two exceptions to the waiting period. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits because you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease--you are immediately eligible for Medicare.

Kidney Failure

• The other exception to the waiting period is kidney failure. If you receive dialysis or a kidney transplant and are eligible for Social Security disability, you are immediately eligible for Medicare.

Enrolling

• Once you are collecting Social Security disability benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare when you become eligible. See the link in the Resources for information on applying for Social Security.