Medicare Basics

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people

• age 65 and older
• under age 65 with certain disabilities who have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for a certain amount of time (24 months in most cases)
• of any age who have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant.

Medicare helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare?
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