Medicare is the federal health insurance program primarily for people 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities or End-Stage Renal Disease. Unlike Medicaid, Medicare eligibility is based on age or disability status — not income.
Medicare is divided into four parts:
If you’re enrolled in Medicare, you are generally not eligible for Marketplace plans or Premium Tax Credits.
You become eligible for Medicare at 65. Most people are automatically enrolled in Parts A and B if they’re already receiving Social Security benefits. If not, you need to actively enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, which runs for 7 months around your 65th birthday (3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after). Missing this window can result in late enrollment penalties.
No. If you’re enrolled in Medicare, you cannot receive a Premium Tax Credit on the ACA Marketplace. Medicare counts as minimum essential coverage, and you cannot have both Medicare and a Marketplace plan with subsidies simultaneously. If you’re approaching 65, plan your transition carefully — a broker or a Medicare counselor (SHIP) can help you navigate the handoff from Marketplace coverage to Medicare.
.svg)