Medicare eligibility age is 65, and that has not changed for 2027. Social Security retirement benefits can start as early as 62, which leads many people to assume Medicare starts then too. It does not. Someone who retires or stops working at 62 faces up to three years, minus the few months before the 65th birthday when Medicare sign-up opens, with no Medicare at all. Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration both set the standard age at 65.
Coverage for ages 62 to 64 usually comes from a Marketplace plan on HealthCare.gov, COBRA, a spouse's job plan, retiree coverage, or Medicaid. Open enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and the premium tax credit for 2027 coverage is measured against the 2026 poverty guidelines. The sections below give the exact rules, the cost levers, and a timeline for reaching Medicare on time.
Coverage Breakdown
Direct answer: can you get Medicare at 62?
No. Medicare starts at 65 for nearly everyone, so claiming Social Security at 62 does not get you Medicare. The only early routes are disability: 24 months of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS. At 62 to 64 without one of those, the usual bridge is a Marketplace plan, COBRA, a spouse's plan, or Medicaid.
What Original Medicare requires (2027)
Original Medicare, meaning Medicare Part A (hospital) and Medicare Part B (medical), is open to people who are 65 or older and are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of at least five years. Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans sit on top of that eligibility, so they also begin at 65 for most people. Medicare.gov describes a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: it opens three months before the month you turn 65 and closes three months after. A June 65th birthday, for example, gives a window from March through September.
Premium-free Part A generally requires 40 quarters of Medicare-covered work, about ten years. With fewer quarters, the 2026 Part A premium is up to $565 a month, or $311 with 30 to 39 quarters, according to the CMS 2026 fact sheet. The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the 2026 Part B deductible is $283. CMS had not published 2027 Part A and Part B premiums as of October 31, 2026, and usually does so in mid-November, so any 2027 figure you see before then is a projection.
Medicare before 65: the three exceptions and what Medicare Advantage and Medigap do
People under 65 can get Medicare in three situations, per Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration. First, 24 months of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Second, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) needing dialysis or a kidney transplant. Third, ALS, where Medicare starts the month SSDI benefits begin with no 24-month wait. Retiring early is not on the list, and receiving reduced Social Security retirement benefits at 62 does not count as disability.
Medicare Advantage and Medigap cannot replace Original Medicare because both require Part A and Part B first. A Medigap supplement for people under 65 is not guaranteed in every state, so check your state insurance department. Our guide on getting Medicare under 65 covers the disability rules in detail. If none of the three exceptions applies, plan for the Marketplace, COBRA, or Medicaid instead.
Cost of going without coverage from 62 to 65 (2026 and 2027)
Going uninsured from 62 to 65 carries no federal tax penalty in 2027 (a few states charge their own), but one hospital stay or cancer diagnosis can cost far more than three years of premiums. Marketplace insurers can charge a 64-year-old up to three times the premium of a 21-year-old, so the sticker price is higher at 62 than at 45, which is why the premium tax credit matters. For 2027 coverage, the expected contribution runs from 2.15% to 10.22% of income, and the credit is available between 100% and 400% of the poverty level.
Income limits depend on the coverage year. For 2027 coverage, the range is $15,960 to $63,840 for one person and $21,640 to $86,560 for two, based on the 2026 guidelines. For 2026 coverage, the range uses the 2025 guidelines: $15,650 to $62,600 for one person and $21,150 to $84,600 for two. The 400% cap is back since the enhanced credits ended December 31, 2025, so an early retiree just above the line loses the entire credit.
Alternatives if Medicare is not available at 62: five ways to cover the gap (2027)
Five routes cover most people between 62 and 65. Compare them on monthly cost, your income, and whether your doctors are in network. Each line below names where to start. None of these is a recommendation of a specific insurer; the right fit depends on your income, health, and state.
Marketplace coverage at 62: timing, income, and the repayment rule (2027)
Marketplace plans sold on HealthCare.gov are ACA-compliant: they cannot turn you away or charge more for a preexisting condition and must cover the essential health benefits. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. HealthCare.gov lists December 15 as the last day to enroll for coverage starting January 1, and enrolling December 16 to January 15 starts coverage February 1, but check HealthCare.gov before relying on the December 15 date. Losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day special enrollment period, and you can apply up to 60 days before the loss.
Income for the credit is your modified adjusted gross income, and it counts all Social Security benefits, including the part that is not taxed. Withdrawals from pre-tax retirement accounts count too. For tax year 2026 and later there is no cap on repaying excess advance credits at any income, so estimate your 2027 income carefully and update HealthCare.gov if it changes. Voluntarily dropping COBRA outside open enrollment does not open a special enrollment period, but COBRA running out does.
Medicaid at 62 to 64: income limit and the 2027 work rule
Adults in the 40 states plus DC that expanded Medicaid qualify under 138% of the federal poverty level, which is $22,025 for one person and $29,863 for two in 2026. The 10 non-expansion states are AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, and WY, and Wisconsin covers adults up to 100%. Expansion Medicaid has no asset test, which can help early retirees with savings but low yearly income.
A federal work requirement now applies to expansion adults 19 to 64 as a condition to get and keep coverage: 80 hours a month of work, school, training, or volunteering, or income of at least $580 a month (80 times the federal minimum wage). From 2027, states must start by January 1, 2027 unless they receive an exemption, so timing depends on your state. Exemptions include medically frail people and parents of a child 13 or younger. Expansion adults also move to 6-month renewals for renewals scheduled on or after January 1, 2027.
Timeline from 62 to 65: how to reach Medicare on time
Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, but claiming then permanently reduces the monthly amount, by about 30% for people turning 62 in 2027, whose full retirement age is 67, according to the Social Security Administration. Claiming early does not start Medicare. Build the bridge first, then decide on the claiming age separately. Once you are eligible for premium-free Part A, you can no longer receive the premium tax credit, so end your Marketplace plan the month Medicare starts and sign up during the seven-month window.
- Age 62: decide your bridge plan before you leave your job; apply for the Marketplace up to 60 days before coverage ends.
- Each fall: compare plans in open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) and update your income estimate.
- Three months before your 65th birthday month: Medicare sign-up opens at Medicare.gov.
- Month you turn 65: premium-free Part A starts; end your Marketplace plan and credit to avoid a gap or overlap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get Medicare at 62 if I retire?
No. Retiring at 62 does not make you eligible for Medicare, which starts at 65 for nearly everyone. Claiming Social Security retirement benefits at 62 also does not start Medicare. You need a bridge plan for the years until 65, such as a Marketplace plan, COBRA, a spouse's plan, or Medicaid if your income is low enough.
Is there any way to get Medicare before 65?
Yes, in three situations. You can get Medicare after 24 months of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, with End-Stage Renal Disease needing dialysis or a transplant, or with ALS, which has no 24-month wait. Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration set these rules. Early retirement and a reduced Social Security check do not qualify.
Does Medicare Advantage start at 62?
No. Medicare Advantage plans require you to have Medicare Part A and Part B first, so they begin at 65 for most people. Medigap supplement policies work the same way, and a Medigap policy for people under 65 is not guaranteed in every state. Before Medicare, your options are Marketplace plans, COBRA, a spouse's plan, retiree coverage, or Medicaid.
How much does health insurance cost from 62 to 65 in 2027?
It depends on your income, state, and plan. For 2027 coverage, the premium tax credit applies between $15,960 and $63,840 of income for one person, with an expected contribution of 2.15% to 10.22% of income. Insurers can charge a 64-year-old up to three times a 21-year-old's premium. COBRA costs up to 102% of the full plan premium under current rules in 2027.
How long can I stay on COBRA after retiring at 62?
COBRA usually lasts up to 18 months after you leave your job, according to the Department of Labor. At 62 that carries you to about 63 and a half, which leaves a gap of roughly a year and a half before Medicare. When COBRA runs out, you get a 60-day special enrollment period to join a Marketplace plan.
Can I get Medicaid instead of Medicare at 62?
Maybe. In the 40 expansion states plus DC, adults qualify under 138% of the poverty level, which is $22,025 for one person in 2026. A federal work requirement for expansion adults 19 to 64 starts by January 1, 2027, with exemptions such as medical frailty. In the 10 non-expansion states, income limits for adults without children are much lower.
What happens to my Marketplace plan when I turn 65?
Once you are eligible for premium-free Part A, you can no longer receive the premium tax credit, so end the Marketplace plan the month Medicare starts. Sign up in your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, which opens three months before the month you turn 65. Missing the window can mean a later start and, for Part B, a lifelong late penalty.
Does claiming Social Security at 62 change my Marketplace subsidy?
Yes, it can. Marketplace income counts all Social Security benefits, including the untaxed part, so claiming at 62 raises the income used for your 2027 premium tax credit. From tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credits, so estimate your 2027 income carefully and report changes to HealthCare.gov.
