You become eligible for Medicare when you turn age 65. If you have certain disabilities and are under age 65, or if you have end-stage renal disease (kidney failure), you may also be eligible for Medicare.

Your monthly payments, co-pays and deductibles depend on many factors, including:

• Whether you have Part A and/or Part B
• How often you need health care
• What type of health care you need
• Whether you choose to get services or supplies not covered by Medicare
• Whether you have other health insurance that works with Medicare
• Whether you have Medicaid or get help paying your Medicare costs

While you are enrolled automatically in free Part A coverage if you are eligible for it, you don’t have to buy Part B or Part D coverage if you don’t think you need it.

In some cases, joining a Medicare plan when you have existing coverage might cause you to lose that coverage. And if you drop your existing health plan to get into Medicare, you might not be able to rejoin your health plan. Talk to your health plan’s benefits administrator first before making any decisions.

If you are on your state’s Medicaid program and eligible for Medicare (meaning you are at least 65 years old or have certain disabilities), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare’s prescription drug program. Your Medicaid program will continue to cover medical costs that Medicare does not cover.

There are several programs that can help you cover some of your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare, if you qualify. Your state’s Medicaid program, which helps pay medical costs for people with limited income, can help, as can Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI). SSI benefits – which are not the same as Social Security – help people with limited incomes. Contact your state’s Medicaid office about other programs that may help you cover your out-of-pocket medical costs. Also, the Social Security Administration (SSA) now offers an “Extra Help” program for those who need assistance paying for the Medicare Part D drug benefit.