Medicare Eligibility Age Differs from Social Security


A helpful article for new retirees or seniors who are preparing to enroll in Social Security and/or Medicare benefits.

Applying for Medicare insurance can be a stressful event. Most people are used to getting their health insurance through their employer and some have never had to apply for any kind of health insurance outside of work. Then you turn 65 and retire and suddenly there are a whole bunch of government programs to learn about.


Fortunately, you can apply for Medicare and your Social Security income benefits at the same location: your local Social Security office. If you are applying for both at the same time, it can even be done in the same visit, provided you are eligible for both. However, it’s important to know that the age at which you are eligible for each program is different.

Eligibility for Social Security

Currently you are eligible for full Social Security income benefits at age 66. Full income retirement benefit means you will be paid 100% of the amount you are eligible to receive, determined by the Social Security administration. You are also eligible to take early income benefits as young as age 62. Taking benefits early means that you will be paid a reduced monthly benefit because you will take benefits over a longer period of time than if you had waited until age 66. The reduced monthly benefit starts at 75% if you are 62.

The longer you wait, the higher your percentage of benefits will get. Many people work well past age 66 these days, and waiting to start your retirement benefits will result in a larger monthly benefit. The maximum benefits is 132% of your full benefit if you wait until age 70. There is a helpful chart at the Social Security website that you can use to determine your percentage based on your age of application for benefits.

It’s important to remember that your Social Security income benefits have nothing to do with Medicare, so whether you apply for your retirement benefits at age 62 or 66, your eligibility for Medicare will not be affected either way.

Eligibility for Medicare

Medicare eligibility is based on a couple of factors. First, you must have worked for 10 years in the U.S. in your lifetime, or be married to someone who has woman who has worked those ten years. Second, you must be age 65 or older unless you have a disability which qualified you for early Medicare benefits. The majority of people who qualify for Medicare are people who “age in,” meaning that they turned 65.

If you are not working past age 65, then you will most likely want to apply for Medicare to be your primary insurance. You can apply for Medicare as early as three months before your 65th birthday, and your Part A and Part B benefits will begin on the first of the month in which you turned 65.

On the other hand, if you do work past age 65 and decide to stay on your employer’s group health insurance, you can delay your enrollment into Medicare until you retire and roll off those group benefits. Most people who decide to stay with their group plan will at least enroll in Medicare Part A, because it doesn't cost anything if you have worked the required 10 years, and it can coordinate with your group insurance to help to reduce your costs if you are hospitalized.

Enrolling in Medicare is a simple process that can be done online, over the telephone or even in person at the nearest Social Security office. As long as you don’t confuse the two government programs and remember that age 65 is the magic number for getting Medicare benefits, your enrollment should be simple and easy to do.


Danielle Kunkle is the co-owner of Boomer Benefits, a licensed insurance agency specializing in Medigap insurance. She and her team help thousands of people each year with when to apply for Medicare. Click here to learn more about when and how to apply for your Medicare benefits.

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Benefits of a Stress Free Lifestyle


Many of us would like to retire to a beach and living life like it should be. But, even retirees are not free from the clutches of stress and anxiety. This leads people to ask if there is really such a thing as a stress-free life. Having a stress-free life is not impossible but it requires a lot of work. It does not come on a silver platter and everyone needs to work on getting themselves relatively stress-free. The key for stress-free living is to know how to cope with it rather looking for a Holy Grail to remove stress from one’s life. If you are able to keep the stress levels at bay, there are great benefits of living life with low stress levels.



You get more rest

Rest is one of the side effects of getting lower stress levels. When you are able to contain stress you get better sleep which provides a positive impact on the body. When you get a lot of rest it helps the body to heal itself. The immune system will get better in its job in thwarting potential infections that may impact the body. A great immune system will make the body healthier and more equipped to battle the elements especially in a dangerous world that is full of pollutants and contagions that could easily break down our bodies and could very well generate a lot of stress and anxiety.

You get less pain

When a person is under stress, pain is always nearby. New studies show that physical pain is linked with stress. According to researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University, stress disables the body’s ability to regulate the response against inflammation. Immune system cells become insensitive when there are high levels of stress hormones going around the body.

You feel happier

When you are less stressed you are able to laugh a bit more. When people are happy they tend to smile and feel happy which has a positive effect to the body’s health. Less stress means you are focused to do the good things in life and you will be able to lift your spirits that is otherwise injured by stress and anxiety.

You eat much better

Overeating is often a symptom of a person under too much stress. If you eat the wrong way it could lead to unhealthy consequences which can become a problem in itself. Getting high blood pressure, high blood sugar and bad cholesterol levels is never good news in any language. People tend to feel good with their “comfort foods” but it will do more damage than good.

You become more positive

When people are under stress, small problems get blown out of proportion. Of course you will have bills, children crying and annoying neighbors and these should not become a big deal if you are not suffering from too much stress. When people are relatively stress-free they look at situations in a more positive angle and become less abrasive when dealing with common everyday challenges. Life is full of challenges but it does not have to push to pull your hair.

You function much better

When you are stressed it is difficult for people to focus or concentrate which often leads to costly mistakes and lapses. Suddenly, everyday problems become harder to solve when it can easily be managed by people that are able to cope with stress well. Without stress compounding your woes you will be able to come up with the answers or solutions to the pressing problems much faster and easier than a person who has stress levels that are shooting through the roof. It is best that managers and people of authority employ stress-reducing techniques to free them from the cudgels of stress and manage things better.

Concerns about the uncertainties in the world have made people anxious and perhaps the symptoms of anxiety have been wreaking havoc that is driving people right up the wall. As common as boredom and an annoying neighbor are just among the stressors people are engaged with every single day. If you are able to control stress, you are on your way to a better life for the rest of your days.

Ryan Rivera writes about depression, panic attacks, stress and anxiety. You may visit his Calm Clinic Facebook account for more information about these topics.

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