Are you eligible for Medicare or Medicaid?
- Call SHIP for free at (385) 468-3200.
- To determine Medicaid eligibility call the Department of Workforce Services at (801) 526-0950.
- To determine Medicare eligibility call Social Security at (800) 772-1213.
Medicare Eligibility
You may qualify for Medicare if:
- You are 65 years of age or older
- Are under the age of 65 but have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months
- Have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
Some people automatically get Part A and Part B. Find out if you’ll get Part A and B automatically. If you're automatically enrolled, you'll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of disability. If you don't get Medicare automatically, you’ll need to apply for Medicare online.
The first time you can enroll is called your Initial Enrollment Period. Your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period includes the three months before the month you turn 65, the month in which you turn 65, and the three months that follow. During this time, you may enroll into Part A and Part B, as well as pick up prescription drug coverage.
Outside of the Initial Enrollment Period there are several other circumstances which will grant you a Special Enrollment Period, such as when you move outside of your service area or you lose creditable coverage through an employer.
For Part D or Medicare Advantage plans, you can visit Medicare.gov to self-enroll or contact your local SHIP agency for further assistance.
If you do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, you may check to see what your options are with the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov.
Medigap Insurance
Medigap is extra health insurance that you buy from a private company to pay health care costs not covered by Original Medicare.
The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your 6-month Medigap open enrollment window. This window begins when you are 65 years of age or older AND you get Medicare Part B. During this time, you have Guaranteed Issue Right – that is, you cannot be subject to medical underwriting when companies are providing you with quotes.
If you apply for Medigap coverage after your open enrollment period, there's no guarantee that an insurance company will sell you a Medigap policy if you don’t meet the medical underwriting requirements. You may purchase a Medigap policy at any time otherwise.