What is Medicare?

Medicare is the largest health insurance program in the United States. It is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), a government agency.

You can join Medicare if you’re 65 or older and:

  • You are either a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, and
  • You or your spouse worked at least 10 years in the Medicare-covered employment
  • You are under 65 with certain disabilities and
  • People of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.