Medicare is a U.S. federal health insurance program mainly for people 65 or older, or for younger people with certain disabilities or specific medical conditions.

You may become eligible for Medicare based on one of the following:

• You are 65 or older
• You are under 65 with a qualifying disability. Medicare eligibility starts after 24 months of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
• You have a diagnosis at any age of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS,also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).

All Medicare applicants need to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident who have resided in the United States continuously for at least five years.