How Social Security and Medicare work together

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, younger people with certain disabilities and those with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Medicare is divided into several parts, each with its own coverage:

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance)

Part A covers inpatient care, hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities and some home health care services. Most people don’t pay a premium for Part A if they’ve worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

Medicare Part B (medical insurance)

Part B covers outpatient care, doctor visits, preventive services and medical equipment. Part B comes with a standard monthly premium ($185 in 2025).

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)

Medicare Advantage plans are private plans that bundle Part A, Part B and often Part D for prescription drug coverage. Some plans offer additional benefits like vision, hearing and dental coverage.

Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)

Part D helps pay for prescription medications. Plans are provided by private insurers and require an additional monthly premium.

Eligibility for Medicare

You’re eligible for Medicare at age 65 if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you’re under 65, you may still qualify if you have a permanent disability or certain medical conditions like ESKD. It’s important to sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period (7 months surrounding your 65th birthday) to avoid late enrollment penalties.

Social Security is a federal program that provides financial benefits to retirees, people with disabilities and survivors of deceased workers. Funded through payroll taxes, Social Security ensures a stable income for millions of Americans.

Eligibility for Social Security

To qualify for Social Security benefits, most people need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years (earning 40 credits). The amount you receive depends on your earnings history and the age you decide to claim benefits. While you can begin claiming as early as age 62, waiting until your full retirement age (around 66–67) or later can increase your monthly payments.¹

How Social Security and Medicare work together

Social Security plays a big role in the administration of Medicare, including:

1. When to sign up for Medicare: If you receive Social Security benefits before turning 65, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Part A and Part B when you turn 65. If you haven’t signed up for Social Security yet, you’ll need to actively enroll in Medicare.
2. Enrollment coordination: Social Security handles the initial processing of your Medicare enrollment. If you prefer Medicare Advantage or Part D, you can make those selections after signing up through Social Security.
3. Managing premiums: If you receive Social Security when you enroll in Medicare, Part B premiums are automatically deducted from monthly Social Security benefits. If you're not yet receiving Social Security benefits, you'll need to pay your premiums directly to Medicare. You can arrange monthly or quarterly payments depending on your needs.

Learn more about Medicare

We have over 120 articles about Medicare coverage, costs, enrollment and more. To learn more about Medicare, check out our Medicare resources.