Last updated September 5, 2023
When to use:
Caller has questions about immigration status and Medicare eligibility.
Important information:
Use this link for a general overview of coverage for lawfully present immigrants.
Eligibility:
In order to be eligible for Medicare, the person must be one of the following:
- A U.S. citizen (no length of residency requirement)
- A lawful permanent resident (LPR) with five years of continuous residence in the U.S. prior to Medicare enrollment (but not eligible for premium-free Part A)
- LPR is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent resident as an immigrant (also known as "Permanent Resident Alien" and "Green Card Holder")
- Five-years continuous residence in U.S.:
- Begins the day the person arrives in U.S. (with the intention of establishing a home)
- Can start before they have LPR status
- Continuous (person intends to maintain U.S. residence, not affected by temporary absences)
- A lawfully present immigrant with work credits (self or spouse) that qualify them for premium-free Part A (no residency requirements)
- Qualified Immigrants:
- LPR
- Refugee, Asylee, Granted Withholding of Deportation or Withholding of Removal Conditional
- Entrant
- Cuban/Haitian Entrant, Amerasian, Iraqi & Afghan Special Immigrant
- Paroled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into the U.S. for at least one year
- Abused spouse, and their child and/or parent
- Member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe or American Indian born in Canada
- Qualified Immigrants:
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)
- Deferred Action (except DACA)
- Paroled into the U.S. for less than one year
- Individual with Non-immigrant Status (includes work visas; student visas; U visas; citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; and many others)
- Administrative order staying removal issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Granted relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT)
- Lawful Temporary Resident
- Family Unity Beneficiary
Five-years continuous residence in U.S.:
- Begins the day the person arrives in U.S. (with the intention of establishing a home)
- Can start before they have LPR status
- Continuous (person intends to maintain U.S. residence, not affected by temporary absences)
Cost:
Part A depends on work credits, see Medicare related cost sharing quick reference.
Purchasing Medicare Part A requires people to enroll in Part B.