When a United States citizen reaches the age of 65, he or she can start using Medicare. This is if they meet another requirement, that of being enrolled in Social Security, but this requirement is fairly easy to meet. If we are close to that age and have a monthly check from the SSA, we will start getting Medicare help for our medical expenses.
This happens automatically, but we should keep in mind that before we reach age 65 we will have to take a few actions in order to get the most out of Medicare. Not doing all the steps may mean that in the end we will not get directly all the services we can get from it.
These are really simple steps to follow and we will be able to do them with peace of mind. The Medicare Administration itself has announced that these steps are the best option to obtain directly all the information possible about the services we will get in the future. This way we will not be able to make mistakes and, in addition, we will have the options to choose which are the best services for us.
Steps to follow before getting Medicare
By accessing the Medicare website, we will find all the information we need to register effectively. The steps to follow are as follows:
- Step 1. Medicare basics. In this section of the website we can find the parts of it the general costs, how it works and what happens if we work after reaching the age of 65.
- Step 2. Prepare to sign up. In step 2 we must take into account when to sign up, how to sign up, when coverage starts to be ready to sign up.
- Step 3. Study coverage options, join a plan, understand when it is best to buy Medgap Policy and find the best Medicare plans in your area.
- Step 4. Using Medicare. Finally, learn about the card, how to get the services available, tips for learning how to use it and several extra tools.
With these steps you will get more than useful information to be able to use Medicare and also to know better what to do before applying for this medical service.
Can I get Medicare before the age of 65?
This is a question that millions of American citizens ask themselves every day. The general rule is that Medicare is not available to U.S. citizens until age 65, but there are exceptions. Citizens with a disability are eligible to enjoy these medical services before that age.
These are all the groups of U.S. citizens who are eligible for Medicare before age 65:
- Users with a disability.
- End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) citizens.
- Patients with ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).
So if you are not in these groups you will have to wait until you are 65 before you can apply for Medicare and start enjoying the services offered by this medical help.
When can I send the documentation?
Although it is true that to start using Medicare we must wait until the age of 65, we can start sending the documentation earlier. To be exact, we can apply for it services up to 3 months before, although we will not be able to enjoy it until we reach the minimum age.
If you’re getting benefits from @SocialSecurity before you turn 65, you’ll automatically get #Medicare once you’re eligible. But, you’ll still have important decisions to make. Start here to get ready for Medicare: https://t.co/H5BnKFBBtn pic.twitter.com/4CyMPrRtVv
— Medicare.gov (@MedicareGov) March 15, 2023
Even so, it is a good idea to study as soon as possible what are all the advantages offered by this medical service and how we can get the maximum benefit from them. If we do this, when the service is available, we will not have to do anything else and we will only be able to enjoy it.
Can I apply for Medicare if I do not have Social Security?
Citizens who have a monthly Social Security benefit automatically start enjoying Medicare services at age 65. However, this is not the case for United States citizens who do not have an SSA benefit, either retirement or disability.
It is true that any U.S. citizen who is 65 years of age can have Medicare for most services. But that does not mean that Americans of that age automatically receive it.
In order to access Medicare services without having Social Security, we will have to contact the Administration and explicitly request them. Since we do not have an automated process due to the lack of an SSA pension, the citizen has to apply for it. Therefore, we can have Medicare without having Social Security, but not automatically.