Can I Get Medicare at Age 62?
You won't get Medicare when you turn 62, even if you're taking Social Security retirement benefits.
You'll typically become eligible for Medicare when you turn 65. You can get Medicare at any age if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, or you've gotten Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for 24 months.
If you're retiring at age 62 and you need coverage until Medicare starts, consider getting insurance through your state health exchange. You may also qualify for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you earn a low income.
Can I get Medicare at age 62?
You can't get Medicare at age 62 unless you qualify because of a disability or health condition.
Most people get Medicare when they turn 65. It's possible to get Medicare at age 62 or younger if you have:
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also called Lou Gehrig's disease
- Gotten Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for 24 months
You can get Social Security retirement benefits when you turn 62. This is a common source of confusion when it comes to Medicare eligibility. It's important to remember that Social Security and Medicare are two separate programs with different age requirements.
If you choose to retire at age 62, you'll need to find another source of health insurance until you turn 65.
You may be eligible for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you earn below about $22,000 per person (roughly $29,000 for a couple) in most states.
Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, Medicaid enrollees will need to work, volunteer or study for 80 hours per month to stay eligible for benefits. Keep in mind, states have the option to start this rule earlier, so it's important to check your state's specific requirements before you sign up for Medicaid.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid, consider getting coverage through your state health exchange. You may be eligible for discounts, called subsidies, that can significantly lower the amount you pay for health insurance.
Health insurance options if you can't get Medicare at age 62
Early retirees who can't get Medicare should consider Medicaid, an ACA health plan or COBRA.
If you intend to retire at age 62, you have several options to bridge the coverage gap until you turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. The best choice for you will depend on individual factors, such as your income, savings and where you live.
- ACA plans, also called Obamacare, offer quality coverage through HealthCare.gov or your state health exchange. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for discounts that can reduce your monthly rate.
- Medicaid is a type of free government health insurance for those who earn a low income.
- Workplace coverage through a spouse is often the best cheap coverage option if available.
- COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) lets you keep the health insurance you had from your previous job for up to 18 months after quitting or getting let go. Keep in mind, COBRA is typically expensive because you're responsible for paying the entire cost of your plan.
- Short-term health insurance is typically inexpensive, and you can buy it any time during the year. But it's usually not a good choice because short-term plans don't have to offer the same level of coverage as marketplace health plans.
- Retiree insurance is a type of group health coverage offered by some employers to retirees. Retiree insurance is often a good choice if you can get it, but fewer than one in four large employers offer this coverage option.
ACA plans available through HealthCare.gov have affordable rates and good coverage. For example, all Obamacare plans have to cover 10 essential services, including mental health, prescription drugs and coverage for ongoing diseases, such as cancer or heart disease.
Companies also can't refuse to sell you a plan or exclude certain types of coverage based on a preexisting condition, and all plans have an annual spending cap, called an out-of-pocket maximum.
The amount you pay for an ACA plan depends on how much money you make. You'll typically get discounts, also called subsidies, if you earn between $15,650 and $62,600 as a single person ($21,150 to $84,600 for a couple).
Roughly 80% of people can get coverage for less than $10 per month.
The amount you pay for health insurance may increase in 2026 because Covid-era "expanded subsidies" end on Dec. 31, 2025. Even without this extra help from the government, an ACA plan will still typically be your most affordable option for quality coverage if you're eligible for subsidies.
A separate rule for high earners limits the amount you'll pay for your monthly health insurance rates to 8.5% of your annual income. But this "expanded subsidy" will also disappear at the end of 2025.
How to get affordable coverage if you don't qualify for subsidies
A Silver health plan costs an average of $1,396 per month for a 62-year-old who doesn't qualify for subsidies. The cost of health insurance rises sharply as you enter middle age. Fortunately, you can take advantage of several strategies to lower the amount you pay for coverage each month.
Choose a lower plan tier: Consider a Bronze health plan or Catastrophic health plan to lower your monthly payments. Keep in mind, you'll have to pay a very high deductible before most coverage starts. You should pick one of these plans only if you don't need a lot of medical care and you can comfortably afford the deductible. ^ Shop around to get the best rates: Comparing quotes from different companies can save you hundreds of dollars per month. ^ Lower your household income: If you're an early retiree and you have the option to draw from a combination of tax-advantaged accounts, consider taking more money from your Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) to reduce your taxable income. Remember, the government only considers your taxable income when determining subsidy eligibility.How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65.
You can enroll in Medicare up to three months before or after your birthday month. So if you turn 65 on April 7, you could sign up for Medicare at any point between Jan. 1 and July 31. Keep in mind, you'll automatically get Medicare if you're taking Social Security payments. Otherwise, you need to sign up with the Social Security office online or over the phone at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778).
It's possible to get Medicare if you're younger than 65 if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), or you've had Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for two years.
To get Medicare at any age, you also need to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years in a row.
Frequently asked questions
Can I Get Medicare at Age 62?
No, you can't get Medicare at age 62 unless you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, or you've gotten Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for 24 months. Early retirees can usually get affordable coverage through their state health exchange.
How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
Typically, Medicare starts when you turn 65. You can sign up for Medicare up to three months before or after your birthday month.
How can I retire at 62 and get health insurance?
If you retire at age 62, you can get cheap coverage through HealthCare.gov or your state health marketplace. You may be eligible for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you make roughly $22,000 per year or less as a single person (about $29,000 per year for a couple).
Sources
Medicare age requirements, costs and open enrollment dates came from CMS.gov and Medicare.gov. Medicare requirements and Social Security eligibility rules came from SSA.gov.
Talon Abernathy
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Auto and motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- The Miami Herald
- Money.com
- MSN
- Nasdaq
- The Sacramento Bee
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, University of Washington
- Certificate in Copyediting, UC San Diego
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