• 65 years and older

• Permanent Disability (SSDI)

• ALS (Lou-Gehrig’s Disease)

• End-Stage Renal Disease

No, Medicare is not free. In the simplest terms:

Part A is free if you or your spouse have worked 40 quarters (10 years) and paid Medicare taxes.

Part A has a deductible of $1736 (2026) per benefit period.

Part B has a monthly premium of $202.90 (2026).

Part B has an annual deductible of $283 (2026).

Part B has an 80/20 coinsurance.

No. Medicare provides coverage for hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) care.

It does not cover: Prescription Drugs, Dental, Vision, Hearing, or Routine Physical Exams.

If you are currently receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement or Disability benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare 3 months prior to your 65th birthday. If you wish to delay Part B enrollment, you will need to contact the Social Security Administration and follow their instructions for delaying enrollment.

You can generally enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This period is a 7-month window around your birthday month. The period begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. 

You can apply for Medicare online through the Social Security Administration or call 1-800-772-1213.

No, you can delay enrollment in Medicare if you have creditable employer group coverage.

If you are eligible for premium-free Part A, you may choose to enroll in Part A only until your employer group coverage ends, at which point you will want to enroll in Medicare Part B to avoid penalty.

It is also important to know that you may have both an employer group plan and Medicare. Medicare will act as secondary payor in this case.