Medicare Eligibility Checker
Check if you're eligible for Medicare by age, disability, ALS, or ESRD, and find out exactly when your coverage can start.
You're eligible for Medicare if you're 65 or older, or if you've received SSDI for 24 months, or if you have ALS, or if you have End-Stage Renal Disease. You only need to qualify through one of these four paths, not all of them.
Most people think of Medicare as something that starts at 65, but that's only one of four separate paths to eligibility. Disability, ALS, and kidney failure can all qualify someone years, sometimes decades, earlier. Answer the questions below to check which paths apply to you.
Check Medicare Eligibility
Medicare eligibility works through four independent paths, and you only need to qualify through one. The most familiar is age: turning 65 while being a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent resident who's lived here at least 5 years. The second is disability: after receiving Social Security Disability Insurance for 24 months, Medicare eligibility begins automatically, usually with coverage starting in the 25th month. The third path is specific to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Congress eliminated the 24-month wait for ALS patients entirely, so Medicare eligibility begins the very same month SSDI cash benefits start. The fourth path covers End-Stage Renal Disease, permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant. This path has no age requirement and doesn't require SSDI at all. Eligibility generally begins the first day of the 4th month of dialysis, though it can start as early as the first month with completed home dialysis training, or immediately with a kidney transplant. Turning 65 with fewer than 10 years of qualifying work history still gets you Medicare eligibility, it just means Part A likely comes with a monthly premium instead of being free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for Medicare?
You're eligible if you're 65 or older (and a citizen or lawful permanent resident of 5+ years), or if you've received SSDI for 24 months, or if you have ALS, or if you have End-Stage Renal Disease. You only need to qualify through one of these paths.
When am I eligible for Medicare if I'm under 65?
Most people under 65 become eligible after receiving SSDI benefits for 24 months. ALS patients qualify immediately with no waiting period, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease generally qualify starting the 4th month of dialysis, or immediately with a kidney transplant or home dialysis training.
Do I have to wait 24 months for Medicare if I have ALS?
No. Congress eliminated the waiting period for ALS. Medicare eligibility begins the same month your SSDI cash benefits start.
Can I get Medicare before age 65 with kidney failure?
Yes, through the End-Stage Renal Disease pathway. Eligibility generally begins the first day of the 4th month of dialysis, though it can start sooner with a kidney transplant or completed home dialysis training.
Do I need 10 years of work history to get Medicare?
No, but it affects whether Part A is premium-free. You can still qualify for Medicare without that work history; you (or possibly your spouse) would just need to pay a monthly premium for Part A instead of getting it free.
Can a green card holder get Medicare?
Yes, if they've lived in the U.S. continuously for at least 5 years and otherwise meet an eligibility path like turning 65.
This tool provides a general eligibility check based on current Medicare rules and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. It does not verify your actual work credit history, immigration documentation, or medical diagnosis. For an official eligibility determination, contact the Social Security Administration or visit medicare.gov.