Does everyone over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare?

Question

Gary Church · Accepted Answer

Here's a question that came in: Does everyone over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare? Well, the obvious answer is no. How do you qualify for Medicare Part A and Part B? You had to be working, I've been self-employed at least for ten years and have at least 40 quarters paid into through Medicare taxes to qualify for Medicare Part A and Part B. If you're a non-U.S. citizen, you do not qualify for Medicare. If you're a naturalized citizen or hold a green card, you've been in the country at least five years or longer. You could be eligible for Medicare. The difference is if you haven't paid into Medicare taxes, you would be responsible for paying for Part A and Part B. I hope that answers your question.

Mark Bilgere · Answer

Most people over 65 qualify, but not all people. In addition to being 65, you must have 40 quarters of work during which you paid taxes, or, be married to a spouse who has earned 40 quarters. That is 10 years.

You must also be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident that has lived in the country for the last 5 years.

William Lawler · Answer

No, not everyone over the age of 65 qualifies for Medicare. For eligibility you must have worked 40 quarters and paid into the system to qualify for Medicare Part A.

John Becker · Answer

No, not everyone over 65 automatically qualifies; you generally need to be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident for 5 years and have worked (or have a spouse who worked) paying Medicare taxes for about 10 years for premium-free Part A, though you can buy coverage if you don't, and others under 65 with disabilities also qualify. Eligibility hinges on citizenship, age, residency, and work history, with options to enroll (and pay premiums) if you don't meet the free Part A criteria, or delay enrollment if you have other group coverage. 
Key Eligibility

Lynn C Shurtleff · Answer

No, they actually do not and I have come across this before. If you don't qualify for part A there is a monthly cost of over $500 a month. It all depends on qualifying for Social Security by paying into the system for the required amount of time.

Answered by Lynn C Shurtleff on September 21, 2025

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

Answered by Lynn C Shurtleff Medicare Insurance Agent

Michelle Sparks · Answer

To be eligible for Original Medicare Part A and Part B, you must be age 65 or have been entitled to Social Security Disability insurance for 24 months (two exceptions to this: disabled due to end stage renal disease ESRD or ALS). 

Part A is hospital insurance and comes with a zero dollar premium if you are insured (e.g. paid FICA tax for 10 years) for Social Security benefits. Many people sign up for Part A, even if they are continuing to work since it is a benefit they have earned and does not cost anything extra. It simply provides extra coverage. 

Part B is medical insurance and in 2026 comes with a $202.90 monthly premium for most individuals (some high earners pay pay more for their Part B). If you are still working at age 65 and covered by an employer group health plan (EGHP), many people hold off on signing up for Part B, due to the cost of the premium. There is also no penalty for filing after age 65, if you are covered by an EGHP that is creditable. You should ask your Human Resources Department if your EGHP is creditable before deciding not to take Part B at age 65. 

If you have not worked and paid into Social Security and are not insured for benefits, you can get Part A and Part B, but you would owe the monthly premiums for both. For Part A, the monthly premiums may range from ~$300 to over $500 monthly. For Part B, the monthly premium will be $202.90. 

I also recommend working with a local Medicare expert at least 4-6 months before your 65th birthday. Additionally, if you are on Social Security Disability, reach out 4-6 months before you are eligible for Medicare. Medicare experts will be able to educate you on all your Medicare options (e.g. Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Dental, Vision, Hearing etc...), as well as ensure that you avoid costly late enrollment penalties.

Mark Cunningham · Answer

To qualify for Medicare insurance, individuals must generally meet one of the following requirements: be 65 years of age or older, have a qualifying disability and have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months, or have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), regardless of age. In addition, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident who has lived in the United States for at least five continuous years.

Answered by Mark Cunningham on January 19, 2026

Agent Licensed in CO, FL, GA & NE, VA, WI & WY

Answered by Mark Cunningham Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven DiPaolo · Answer

Yes, but they may not qualify for premium free if they do not have the required working history, which is about 10 years.

In that case, they would have to pay for Part A, but they or their spouse must also be a legal citizen or resident.

Corey Romero · Answer

Not necessarily. Just turning 65 doesn’t automatically mean you qualify for Medicare.

You need to be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident who’s lived here at least five years. On top of that, you or your spouse need to have worked and paid into Medicare taxes for about 10 years (or 40 eligible quarters) to get Part A without paying a premium.

If you haven’t met that work requirement, you can still get Medicare, but you might have to pay for Part A out of pocket along with the premium for Part B.

So no, it’s not just about age. There are a few other things that have to line up.

Dan Bryant · Answer

The main requirement is you being 65+and a US citizen or permanent resident for 5 + years. The nuances come in based on number of quarters worked (or spouse worked) regarding how much a person will pay for Part A Medicare, for most folks is $0.

Answered by Dan Bryant on March 31, 2026

Agent Licensed in NC, FL, SC & TN, TX, VA & WV

Answered by Dan Bryant Medicare Insurance Agent

Steve Houchens · Answer

To qualify for Medicare you have to be 65 or under 65 with disability or certain qualifying conditions. You have to have worked and paid in for at least 40 quarters to qualify for part A and part B has a $203 monthly premium unless you qualify for extra help.

Answered by Steve Houchens on January 12, 2026

Agent Licensed in KY & TN

Answered by Steve Houchens Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven A James, MBA · Answer

Medicare is a Federal Medical Insurance program for eligible beneficiaries upon reaching age 65.    There are no preexisting conditions that would preempt eligibility.  Unfortunately, there are those under 65 who become eligible duo to permanent disability.

To be eligible, you must be a US citizen or Legal Resident having lived in the US for 5 continuous years.  I've had numerous situations where someone or a family member returned home for an extended period of time and thus weren't eligible until they eventually would/could meet the continuous requirement.

Steven James
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Michael Yost · Answer

Most people do qualify but there are certain rules in order to qualify for Medicare. For example, you or a spouse had to pay Medicare taxes while working for at least 10 years (40 quarters).

David Ryerson · Answer

They need to be a US citizen, or a permanent legal resident for at least five years. 

Cost for A&B may be higher (or lower, depending on qualification for assistance programs) than the standard premium.

Juan Osborn · Answer

No, not everyone over 65 qualifies for Medicare automatically. Eligibility also depends on factors like U.S. citizenship, or whether you or your spouse have worked long enough in Medicare-covered employment to receive premium-free Part A.

Answered by Juan Osborn on September 19, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, CO, GA & 9 other states

Answered by Juan Osborn Medicare Insurance Agent

Vonda Peralez · Answer

Well, that is a question I get quite often. And there are layers to that. 

First, you must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. at least five consecutive years. 

You or your spouse must have paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (about 10 years). 
If you meet the work credits requirement, you're usually eligible for premium-free Part A. 
Those who don't meet the work requirement may still purchase Part A and must pay Part B premiums, provided they meet the citizenship/residency rules.

If you are still working and covered by your group insurance, you need a good agent to help you decide if you should stick with the group coverage or move to Medicare.

Fred Manas · Answer

No, not everyone over 65 automatically qualifies; you generally need to be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident for 5 years and have worked (or have a spouse who worked) paying Medicare taxes for about 10 years for premium-free Part A, though you can buy coverage if you don't, and others under 65 with disabilities also qualify. Eligibility hinges on citizenship, age, residency, and work history, with options to enroll (and pay premiums) if you don't meet the free Part A criteria, or delay enrollment if you have other group coverage.

Key Eligibility

Meghan Blankenship · Answer

Not everyone over 65 automatically qualifies for Medicare - but most do. You 're eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) at 65 if: a) you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) b) you're a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least 5 continuous years. If you meet these criteria, you can also enroll in: Part B (medical insurance), which has a monthly premium. Part D (prescription drug coverage), and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, if you prefer an all-in-one alternative.

Answered by Meghan Blankenship on November 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, MD & OH

Answered by Meghan Blankenship Medicare Insurance Agent

Carol Thompson · Answer

Not necessarily- you have had  to paid into taxes for 10 years and earned 30 or more credits. Social Security office can look that up for you to determine if you are eligible.

Marcie Barnes · Answer

If a person is a United States citizen and worked 40 quarters aka 10 years paying into the system, then they qualify for Medicare at age 65

Karen Ansell · Answer

No, not everyone over the age of 65 qualify for Medicare. You must be a legal US Citizen and over the age of 65. Medicare Part A will be $0 cost as long as you worked 40 quarters into the Social Security system. Medicare Part B in 2026 is $202.90 per month unless your income is above a certain amount. If it is you will pay more.

You can have Medicare under age 65 if you qualify for disability for 2 years.

Brent Mowery · Answer

The simple answer is "no". If you or your spouse are citizens of the US and paid into the Medicare system for 40 quarters (10 years) you become eligible for original Medicare (Parts A & B) at age 65. If you are disabled, you can qualify for Medicare at an earlier age.

Answered by Brent Mowery on November 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK, CO, NC & TX

Answered by Brent Mowery Medicare Insurance Agent

Shahwali Hotaki · Answer

No. Turning 65 alone doesn’t automatically qualify someone for Medicare.
Most people qualify if they’re U.S. citizens or lawful residents and have worked (or a spouse has worked) at least 10 years paying Medicare taxes.

Dorthea Hughes · Answer

Yes, definitely anyone over the age of 65 qualifies for medicare however in some cases where there is a long-term disability people qualify for medicare at a younger age or if they've been disabled for 24 consecutive months they become qualified for medicare at a younger age

Answered by Dorthea Hughes on September 20, 2025

Agent Licensed in MS

Answered by Dorthea Hughes Medicare Insurance Agent

Julius Baradas · Answer

Not everyone over the age of 65 is qualified for Medicare.  You must be a US citizen or a legal resident (green card) to qualify for Medicare.

George Barkley · Answer

You must be a US citizen or legal resident living here the last 5 years to qualify for enrolling in Medicare once you reach the age of 65.

Janelle Rider · Answer

Although 65 is the typical age to qualify for Medicare not everyone qualifies for Medicare over the age of 65. 


Two major factors that qualifies someone for Medicare is meeting the work requirements (10 years paying into Medicare - 40 quarters); and, the citizenship or residency requirements (a US citizen or law permanent resident for the last 5 years.

If someone does not meet these requirements and over the age of 65, they will not qualify for Medicare.