Medicare Explained
What is Medicare and Who is Eligible?Medicare is the federal government program that provides health care coverage (health insurance) if you are 65 & older, under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a certain amount of time, or under 65 and with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).You are also eligible for Medicare if you are a citizen of the United States or have been a legal resident for at least 5 years and: You are age 65 or older and you or your spouse has worked for at least 10 years (or 40 quarters) in Medicare-covered employment.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that runs Medicare. The program is funded in part by Social Security and Medicare taxes you pay on your income, in part through premiums that people with Medicare pay, and in part by the federal budget. It is often confused with Medicaid which is a state sponsored program that offer health care to people with low income. So now that you know what Medicare is, when and where do you apply.