Can I enroll in Medicare if I've never paid into Social Security due to working overseas?

Question

Curtis Stoner · Accepted Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare even if you've never paid into Social Security due to working overseas. However, your eligibility and costs will depend on your residency status and work history.

Medicare Eligibility Without U.S. Work History
To qualify for Medicare, you must be either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five continuous years before applying. 

While most people receive Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) premium-free by earning 40 work credits (approximately 10 years of work paying into Social Security), you can still enroll in Medicare by paying premiums if you haven't met this requirement

Costs Without Work Credits
Part A (Hospital Insurance): If you have fewer than 30 work credits, you'll pay the full premium for Part A. For 2025, this premium is up to $505 per month. 
Social Security

Part B (Medical Insurance): Part B requires a monthly premium for all enrollees, regardless of work history. In 2025, the standard Part B premium is $185 per month

Gary Church · Answer

That depends! Are you a US citizen? Are you 65 or older? Do you have a spouse or ex-spouse who is or was a U.S. citizen and worked in the US for 10 years or 40 quarters that could qualify you? Reach out to Social Security.

Answered by Gary Church on September 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in Ca, AZ, NV & TX

Answered by Gary Church Medicare Insurance Agent

Steve and Sue Brauer · Answer

Anyone legally in the United States can enroll into Medicare if they are at least 65 years old or if they have been deemed disabled for the last 24 months by a physician. Someone that has worked overseas and not paid into the system may have to pay a premium for Part A (Hospital coverage) of Medicare, that people who have paid into the system get it premium free.

Answered by Steve and Sue Brauer on April 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ & CA

Answered by Steve and Sue Brauer Medicare Insurance Agent

Daniel Brechin · Answer

Medicare is paid through Social Security. If you did not contribute to Social Security then you will not get it. However, contact Social Security and advise you would like to purchase Part A&B. It may be provided to you.

Answered by Daniel Brechin on October 10, 2025

Agent Licensed in AL, FL, KY, MS & TN

Answered by Daniel Brechin Medicare Insurance Agent

Terri Reagin · Answer

You must have a minimum number of working credits in order to qualify for Medicare. You should always contact social security to verify your eligibility but for those individuals that are not eligible for medicare, the Marketplace may be available for you for your major medical. Talk to a local agent about your options!

Answered by Terri Reagin on July 31, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK, AR, CO & 6 other states

Answered by Terri Reagin Medicare Insurance Agent

Ann Sanfelippo · Answer

Yes, you can still enroll in Medicare even if you never paid into Social Security while working overseas. However, you may have to pay a premium for Part A if you don’t have enough work credits to qualify for premium-free coverage. You can still enroll in Part B by paying the standard monthly premium. Eligibility and enrollment are handled through the Social Security Administration. Some people may also qualify for credits through a spouse who paid into the system.

Answered by Ann Sanfelippo on March 6, 2026

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, AZ & 14 other states

Answered by Ann Sanfelippo Medicare Insurance Agent

Bill Wheeler · Answer

Yes you can enroll, but since you haven’t paid into  social security you will have a monthly premium for part A and Partt B.
 Now if you worked for a U.S company while overseas you may have some credits.
You needed to pay in to social security for 10 years to get part A.

Edward Smith, ChFC, CRPS, AIF · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare even if you've never paid into Social Security due to working overseas. However, your eligibility and costs will depend on your residency status and work history. 

To qualify for Medicare, you must be either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five continuous years before applying. Part A (Hospital Insurance) is generally premium-free if you've worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). If you have fewer than 30 work credits, you'll pay the full premium for Part A. For 2025, the standard Part B premium is $185 per month. 

If you haven't paid into the system, you may still qualify for premium-free Part A by paying a premium for both Part A and B. It's crucial to contact Social Security to verify your eligibility and to purchase Part A and B if necessary.

Lynn C Shurtleff · Answer

Yes but you will have to pay for both part A and B.   Part B this year was about $185 per month but A is over $500 a month.  If you haven’t at least paid in 40 quarters you can enroll but at a cost.

Jacqueline Proffit · Answer

Your best course of action is to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as you are nearing retirement age or moving back to the U.S. They manage Medicare enrollment and can review your specific work history to tell you exactly what your premium and enrollment options are.

Answered by Jacqueline Proffit on October 20, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AR, CA & 15 other states

Answered by Jacqueline Proffit Medicare Insurance Agent

Kerwyn Jones · Answer

No! You need 40 quarters, equivalent to 10 years working to qualify for Medicare. If not, you can purchase quarters. More discussion needed on that.

Darlene Murphy · Answer

Yes, you may enroll, however; your premiums may be different than others enrolled in Medicare. You also must be a US citizen.

Andrew Firmin · Answer

Yes. However, you may have to pay a premium for your Part A coverage if you do not have the full 40 work credits. You should talk with a certified medicare planning advisor to review your particular situation. There may be enrollment period questions or late enrollment penalty situations that you might need to revew.

Answered by Andrew Firmin on April 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in MA, CT, DE & 13 other states

Answered by Andrew Firmin Medicare Insurance Agent

Edward MacConnell · Answer

The answers are not the same for everyone. You may have to pay for Medicare if it isn't free for you. The answer is usually yes but it may not be free. I would make an appointment with an independent broker who can review your specific circumstances and give you a complete and correct answer.

Answered by Edward MacConnell on April 27, 2026

Broker Licensed in PA, AK, AZ & 19 other states

Answered by Edward MacConnell Medicare Insurance Agent

Mark Zaruba · Answer

Yes, you may enroll, however you will need to pay a premium for your Part A and part B if you do not have at least forty quarters (or ten years of work unless you are a spouse of a qualified recipient.

Answered by Mark Zaruba on March 2, 2026

Agent Licensed in WI & IA

Answered by Mark Zaruba Medicare Insurance Agent

Ryan George · Answer

You can, but the answer you're looking for is in the cost. Typically, Part A is free if you or your spouse have 40 quarters or 10 years of U.S. work history. If you're under that amount, you'll be paying. Either $278 (in 2025) or $505 (in 2025). Part B is usually a purchased benefit (depends on income), so work history overseas doesn't affect Part B eligibility. In short, Medicare is available, but can cost more based on work history.

Answered by Ryan George on April 13, 2026

Broker Licensed in PA, AK, AL & 49 other states

Answered by Ryan George Medicare Insurance Agent

Jeffrey Horn · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare at age 65 or older if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, even if you have no U.S. work history. However, because you did not pay Medicare taxes for the required 40 quarters (10 years), you will likely have to pay a monthly premium for Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance)

Answered by Jeffrey Horn on April 13, 2026

Agent Licensed in IL, AZ, CO & 17 other states

Answered by Jeffrey Horn Medicare Insurance Agent

Tracy Briley · Answer

Yes you can. However you will pay for both  Part A and Part B. 
Even if you worked over seas, if you are an American Citzen, I would check your Social Security statement just to be sure.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Yes. There is a premium for those who are in your situation or those with only a green card. It is somewhere around $475.00/month. Call 1-800-Medicare and they will set you up.

Diana Garner · Answer

Yes, you can, but the key difference will be whether or not you qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A.

If you did not pay Medicare taxes while working, you will probably have a premium to pay for Part A, as well as paying the premium for Part B, unless you qualify for premium-free Part A under a spouse's work history, meaning they have met the requirements themself and you have been married for at least 1 year. You may also qualify under a previous spouse or because of a qualifying medical condition or disability.

Kristen Skinner · Answer

Typically no. If you do not have enough working hours you can not enroll in Medicare. You can sometimes enroll in an ACA plan through the Marketplace. I have one client who is in her seventies and she could not enroll in Medicare, but has an ACA plan.

Answered by Kristen Skinner on May 22, 2026

Broker Licensed in OK

Answered by Kristen Skinner Medicare Insurance Agent

Priscilla Ramos · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare, but you may have to pay for it.  Part B: You can enroll and pay the monthly premium.  Part A: If you didn’t pay into Social Security, you may have to pay a premium to get it.
Some people qualify through a spouse’s work history instead

Rich Baker · Answer

If you are a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (with 5+ years of residency) you CAN enroll in medicare, but your cost will likely be different if you’ve never paid into the system.

Part A is premium free if you’ve worked for 40 quarters (10 years) and paid into the system. If you don’t meet that requirement, you can BUY part A coverage. 

Part B would be handled the same as everyone else - you’ll pay the premium appropriate for your income. 

Your supplemental coverage (Medicare Advantage, Medigap and/or Part D) are based on your medicare eligibility and not based on your social security contributions. 

NOTE - Foreign work credits from countries with TOTALIZATION agreements with the US (ie Canada, the UK, Germany) MAY count toward the Social Security eligibility and COULD reduce or eliminate the Part A premium. Also, if you’re married to someone with US Work Credits that can make a difference, so there are a lot of variables to this situation. Social Security can help you determine what comes next.

Vernon Jones · Answer

I am not sure if you can enroll into Medicare for i know people in your case can receive spousal benefits. However i would professional suggest that you contact SSA office, for they should be able to answer that question.

Answered by Vernon Jones on August 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC & SC

Answered by Vernon Jones Medicare Insurance Agent

Rukshini Sandrasegaran · Answer

If you are a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident and have lived in the United States for at least five continuous years, you are generally eligible to enroll in Medicare at age 65.
However, eligibility for premium-free Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) depends on your work history. In most cases, you (or your spouse) must have earned at least 40 Social Security credits (about 10 years of work). If you do not meet this requirement, you can still enroll in Medicare, but you will likely need to pay a monthly premium for Part A. 
If you worked overseas for the US. government or the US. -Based employer, your wages were generally subject to Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes under US. law. As a result, you likely earned credits toward Medicare eligibility just as if you had worked in the United States. 
To determine your exact eligibility. Especially if you qualify for premium‑free Part A, your best course of action is to contact the Social Security Administration. They can review your work record and confirm your eligibility for Medicare Parts A, B, and D, as well as any premiums that may apply.

Deborah Zanelotti · Answer

Yes, as long as you are a US citizen or lawful permanent citizen, but you'll pay the Part A premium.

Katherine Sanneman · Answer

Yes, you can, but you will have a part A premium in addition to your part B premium. Most people get Part A at no cost for working 10 years or 40 quarters paying in. Social Security would be able to verify the cost for you.

You can contact me directly if you have more questions.

Fred Manas · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare even if you haven't paid into Social Security due to working overseas. However, you may have to pay a premium for Part A (hospital insurance) and must enroll in Part B (medical insurance). You can enroll in Medicare during a special enrollment period when you return to the United States as a permanent resident. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:
Premium-free Part A:
If you haven't worked enough quarters (40 quarters) to qualify for premium-free Part A, you'll need to pay a premium to enroll in Part A. 
Part B:
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has been living in the U.S. for at least 5 years, you can enroll in Part B. 
Special Enrollment Period:
When you return to the U.S. as a permanent resident, you will have a special enrollment period to enroll in Part A and Part B without late enrollment penalties. 
Enrollment outside the U.S.:
If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad and don't qualify for Social Security benefits, you cannot enroll in Medicare until you return to the U.S. 
Enrollment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate:
If you are living abroad and wish to enroll in Medicare, you can do so by contacting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Gary Henderson · Answer

Well that really depends. You should contact social security to figure out your situation 
If you work for a US company overseas then you did pay into social security and Medicare. That's the important part. There's two parts here 
If you worked in the United States for at least 10 years of your life, you would be eligible because you paid into Medicare and social security

Mary Brown · Answer

Yes, you would be entitled to Medicare but you would not get premium free Part A unless your spouse qualifies.

Meghan Blankenship · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare even if you've paid into Social Security due to working overseas-but you'll likely have to pay premiums for certain parts.

Mark Boone · Answer

yes you can, but you may have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A if you have not accumulated 40 working quarters in the US during your lifetime. You also may have to pay a penalty if you do not enroll in Part B during your initial eligibility and you do not have an exception.

Answered by Mark Boone on August 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in MN, FL, MI & NC, OH, SC & VA

Answered by Mark Boone Medicare Insurance Agent

Marcie Barnes · Answer

To be eligible for Medicare Part A and B you must have worked and paid into Medicare through your tax contributions for a minimum for 40 quarters or 10 years.

If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A: You might be able to buy it. You’ll pay either $285 or $518 each month for Part A, depending on how long you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes.

Part B costs

$185 each month (or higher depending on your income). The amount can change each year. You’ll pay the premium each month, even if you don’t get any Part B-covered services.

Who pays a higher Part B premium because of income? go to Medicare.gov for the income chart

You might pay a monthly penalty if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible for Medicare (usually when you turn 65). You’ll pay the penalty for as long as you have Part B. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. Find out how the Part B penalty works and how to avoid it.

Pat Papson · Answer

Hi..
My best advice is you need to check with either your local Agent or Medicare directly.

Hope this helps..

Toni Cormier · Answer

Yes, you can pay to obtain Medicare; however, if you are married and your spouse worked and paid into the program.  You will pay monthly premiums for Medicare Part A, B and Prescription Drug plan.

Linda Davies · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in Medicare even if you have never paid into Social Security due to working overseas.  

Keeping in mind that someone who have never worked or worked for fewer than ten (10) years may have to pay a monthly premium for Part A (hospital  coverage).

Jim Willis · Answer

There is no easy answer to your question.  Simply put, most likely yes... but you may have to pay for it.  Medicare is separate from Social Security.  If you paid Medicare but not Social Security, see next paragraph.

If you have less than 30 work credits with Medicare, the cost for Part A coverage is $518 per month.

Robert Remin · Answer

Even if you don't qualify for Social Security, you can sign up for Medicare at 65 as long you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Fran Lovelace · Answer

You can if you want to pay full price.  You can find it on Medicare.gov
It is possible that you would come out better on the ACA coverage.

Mark Walker · Answer

There are a number of rules here and the answers can be found in medicare.gov. Whether you paid Medicare taxes for 10 years or 40 quarters. So there are a lot of hoops to jump through to find the benefits that you either deserve or not.

Answered by Mark Walker on September 8, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Mark Walker Medicare Insurance Agent

Otisha Newton · Answer

Yes, you can still enroll in Medicare, but the rules are a little different. If you haven’t paid into Social Security, you may have to pay a premium for Part A (hospital coverage). Part B (medical coverage) is also available, but it always comes with a monthly premium. Some people qualify through a spouse’s work history, even if they didn’t pay into Social Security themselves.

Answered by Shaneathia Armstrong on September 15, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, FL, KY, MI & NC

Answered by Shaneathia Armstrong Medicare Insurance Agent

Jermaine Williams · Answer

Yes you can but you be required to pay the Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B enrollment fees which can change very year.

Tonya White · Answer

Paying into Social Security is different than paying into Medicare.  If you do not have 40 quarters (10 years) of working history in the U.S. where you and your employer (or if you're self-employed you would also have the employer portion) where you paid into Medicare, you can obtain Medicare at age 65 but you will have to pay for Part A whereas if you paid into the system during your working career Part A will not have a cost for you once you stop working.  Contributions towards Part A are paid during one's entire working career in the US typically and stop when they retire.

If you've never paid into the system, you will be at the highest Part A premium.  This amount used to be posted on Medicare's website but they took it down.  If you create an account on Medicare.gov you should be able to obtain this information as the premiums can change annually and the 2026 numbers should be posted anytime within the next few weeks.

Part B of Medicare generally isn't turned on until one reaches age 65, nothing is paid into Part B as is the case with Part A.  Medicare Part B does have a monthly premium.

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs

Joseph Tretola · Answer

Yes, you can still enroll but it'll cost you more. If you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years), Part A is premium free. Without that work history, you can still buy into Part A, but you'll pay a monthly premium that in 2024 runs up to around $505 depending on how many quarters you did work. Part B and Part D are available to anyone 65 or older who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, regardless of work history, though you'll pay the standard premiums for those. So working overseas doesn't disqualify you, it just means Part A won't be free like it is for most people.

Answered by Joseph Tretola on February 2, 2026

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 26 other states

Answered by Joseph Tretola Medicare Insurance Agent

Albert Smith · Answer

Yes, you can. You must be 65+ or disabled for 24 months, and then you must pay a premium for parts A and B.

Lori Marion` · Answer

No. You need 40 working quarters or 10 years to qualify for premium free part a If you never worked or paid taxes in the US, you will not qualify.

Christopher Akers · Answer

You can enroll into Medicare even if you have never paid into Social Security due to working overseas. Your eligibility and costs will depend on your residency status and work history.

Mike Wetsel · Answer

If you did not pay into Social Security for at least 40 quarters AND your spouse did not pay into Social Security for at least 40 quarters, you may still enroll in Medicare at an additional cost.

Please visit for more information:

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/what-does-medicare-cost

Elliot Andrews · Answer

The short answer is yes.  The difference for a beneficiary in this situation would be the premium cost.  

For a typical enrollee who worked in the US and paid into Medicare they would receive Part A for no cost.  They would need to only pay their Part B premium.  For someone in the situation (or something similar) that is asked here they would need to pay premiums for both Part A and Part B.

Ron Gambles · Answer

You can enroll. However, you will be required to pay both Part A and Part B Premiums out of your own pocket in addition to premiums for a Medicare Supplement Plan, Rx Plan or whatever Premiums for an Advantage Plan. All of which will be very costly for the average person.

Answered by Ron Gambles on April 9, 2025

Agent Licensed in TN

Answered by Ron Gambles Medicare Insurance Agent

Dalyaness Martinez · Answer

Is available to you for a monthly premium. If you want, we can discuss more about it and see what are your options.

Dan Green · Answer

Yes. If you have not met the requirements for a no cost Medicare Part A, there will be a cost to you. It is on your best interest to contact a Social Security office near you to learn about your options.

Answered by Dan Green on April 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC

Answered by Dan Green Medicare Insurance Agent

Vicki Wuest · Answer

Yes — you can still enroll!
You’ll just need to pay for Part A (hospital coverage) since it’s normally free only for those with 10 years of U.S. work credits.
As long as you’re a U.S. citizen or legal resident who’s lived here at least 5 years, you can also sign up for Part B (medical coverage) and have full Medicare access.

Shaneathia Armstrong · Answer

Yes, you can still enroll in Medicare, but you may have to pay a premium for Part A if you didn’t pay into Social Security. You’ll still be eligible for Part B and other parts if you meet age or residency requirements.

Answered by Carl-Daniel Cole on May 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in MO, AL, AR & 23 other states

Answered by Carl-Daniel Cole Medicare Insurance Agent

Debra Hartman · Answer

Yes, you can enroll in medicare, you will pay a premium for Medicare Part A and Part B. You may be eligible if you had a spouse that paid in for Part A premium free.

Toni Johnson · Answer

You may enroll in Medicare parts A and B but you will have to pay a monthly premium for part A as well as your part B.  You must be age 65, disabled, or have End Stage Renal Disease to enroll.

Carl-Daniel Cole · Answer

Yes, you can still enroll in Medicare, but you may have to pay a premium for Part A if you didn’t pay into Social Security. You’ll still be eligible for Part B and other parts if you meet age or residency requirements.

Answered by Carl-Daniel Cole on May 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in MO, AL, AR & 23 other states

John Ward · Answer

If you have fewer than 30 quarters you may enroll at a cost of $505 permonth for Part A as for Part B you may enroll at the standard premium amount of $185 for year 2025. Part D will be available if your elligible for Part A or enrolled in Part B.

Answered by John Ward on August 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, FL, GA, LA, NM & OK

Answered by John Ward Medicare Insurance Agent

Gisele Salas · Answer

You cannot enroll into Medicare. If you’re not entitled to it, you would have to have enough credits that you have accumulated over 10 years.
However, that being said you can buy into Medicare

Joshua Filmore · Answer

Yes—you can still get Medicare even if your paychecks never fed the Social Security pot while you were globetrotting. Here’s the wrinkle: without 40 U.S. work credits (or a spouse who has them) you’ll have to buy Part A instead of getting it premium‑free; in 2025 that’s up to about $505 a month. 

Part B and Part D work the same for everyone—you pay the regular monthly premiums and must enroll during the proper windows to dodge late penalties. You’ll also need to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident who’s lived stateside at least five consecutive years. Bottom line: Medicare is still on the menu, it just may cost a bit more. 

Let’s talk through the math and timing so your re‑entry to the U.S. health system is smooth and penalty‑free

Rick Ried · Answer

In order to be eligible for Medicare and receive Part A at no cost,  you must have worked and contributed to the program for 40 quarters or 10 years.

If you have worked for 30 quarters you will have to pay $285 in 2025.

If you have worked less than 30 quarters you will need to pay the full cost of $585 in 2025.

You may also be eligible based on a working spouses work history.