Three ways to qualify before 65
| Reason | When Medicare starts | How you enroll |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits | After 24 months of benefits | Automatically |
| ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) | The month disability benefits begin | Automatically when benefits start |
| End-stage renal disease (ESRD) | Usually the 4th month of dialysis; sooner with home-dialysis training or a transplant | Apply through Social Security |
You (or, for ESRD, your spouse or a parent) need enough work covered by Medicare. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) alone doesn't qualify you for Medicare. See Medicare eligibility.
Medigap before 65 in Florida
Florida is one of the states that requires Medigap access before 65, and its law is broader than many. Under s. 627.6741, Florida Statutes:
- It covers people under 65 with Medicare because of a disability or end-stage renal disease.
- You get a 6-month open enrollment starting the first month you're eligible and enrolled in Part B. During it, companies can't turn you down or price your policy based on your health.
- Companies must offer you the policies they sell, according to the Department of Financial Services, but may charge higher rates to people under 65.
- If you had at least 6 months of continuous creditable coverage before, the policy can't exclude a pre-existing condition.
- Florida's 2-month window after group health coverage ends also applies to you if you're in Part B.
At 65 you get a new open enrollment. See Medigap in Florida and Can I get Medigap under 65 in Florida?
Help with costs
If your income is limited, Florida's Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB and QI-1) can pay your Part B premium; apply through ACCESS Florida or call the Department of Children and Families at (850) 300-4323. Florida's MEDS-AD Medicaid program doesn't cover people on Medicare unless they're in a nursing home, hospice or home and community-based services, so for many people with disability-based Medicare, a Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help are the main help. See Medicare Savings Programs in Florida and Florida Medicaid and Medicare. To review plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
How do I sign up for Medicare in Florida?
Online, by phone or in person.
What if I miss my enrollment period?
Penalties and your next chance.
What changes when I turn 65?
Your new enrollment windows.
Sources
- Social Security — Sign up for Medicare
- Medicare.gov — End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- eCFR — 42 CFR Part 406, hospital insurance eligibility
- Florida Statutes — s. 627.6741, Medigap for people under 65 (disability and ESRD)
- Florida Administrative Code — Chapter 69O-156, Medicare supplement (rule 69O-156.009)
- Florida DCF — ESS Policy Manual, Chapter 2000 (MEDS-AD, Medicare Savings Programs)
- KFF — Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions
More questions in this guide
- How do I sign up for Medicare in Florida?
- What are the Medicare deadlines in Florida for 2027?
- Will some immigrants lose Medicare because of the 2025 federal law?
- Can I get Medicare as a permanent resident (green card holder) in Florida?
- What happens if I miss my Medicare enrollment period in Florida?
- When should I sign up for Medicare if I'm turning 65 in Florida?
Part of the guide: Medicare enrollment periods in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I get SSDI?
No. Social Security enrolls you in Part A and Part B automatically after 24 months of disability benefits and mails your card about 3 months ahead. You can turn down Part B, but if you don't have group coverage from current work, you may owe a penalty later.
Which Medigap plans can I buy before 65 in Florida?
During the 6 months after you're first in Part B, companies that sell Medigap in Florida must offer you their policies without health questions, according to Florida's Department of Financial Services and rule 69O-156.009. Plans C and F are only for people first eligible for Medicare before 2020. Companies can charge higher rates before 65.
Does Florida Medicaid cover me while I wait for Medicare?
Florida hasn't expanded Medicaid, so there's no expansion coverage for adults during the 24-month wait. You may still qualify through SSI or other Florida Medicaid groups; apply through ACCESS Florida.
What happens when I turn 65?
You get a new chance to choose Medicare plans and a new 6-month Medigap open enrollment period. Florida's Department of Financial Services says premiums are lower for people eligible because of age, but you must apply for a new policy to get the lower rate.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
