Medicare & Social Security
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Please contact Social Security to discuss the various Medicare options:
- Medicare Part A - Hospital Insurance
- Medicare Part B - Medical Insurance
- Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage Plans
- Medicare Part D - Prescription Drug Coverage
If approaching age 65, you should sign up for Medicare three months before reaching age 65.
If age 65 or older and previously waived Medicare coverage, please contact Social Security to initiate your enrollment.
Social Security benefits, if applicable, are in addition to your university benefits and provide you with another source of retirement income. You can begin receiving reduced benefits as early as age 62. The earliest age at which you may be eligible to receive an unreduced Social Security benefit varies depending on your year of birth, as shown in the following table:
Year of Birth* |
Full Benefit Retirement Age |
1943 – 1954 |
66 |
1955 |
66 and 2 months |
1956 |
66 and 4 months |
1957 |
66 and 6 months |
1958 |
66 and 8 months |
1959 |
66 and 10 months |
1960 and later |
67 |
*If you were born on January 1 of any year, refer to the previous year.
If you have any questions about Medicare or Social Security, please contact the Social Security Administration at www.ssa.gov or call (800) 772-1213.