There are a number of resources and supports available locally and online to help answer questions about Medicare eligibility, coverage, and how to apply. Medicare offers written resources in nearly two dozen different languages which you can link to in the table of resources above this paragraph. Resources cover a variety of topics ranging from overviews of the parts of Medicare to COVID-19 vaccine coverage to who to contact for answers to your Medicare questions.
You can always request translation assistance when you have questions about or need to access health care. Click here for Medicare resources in other languages.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), programs that receive federal financial assistance, including Medicaid and Medicare Parts A, C, and D, need to provide language assistance services, such as interpreters and translated documents. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) understands that Medicare beneficiaries have communication and language needs that must be met for them to receive quality care.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for United States citizens or permanent legal residents who are age 65 or older, younger with certain disabilities, or who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Immigrants can get Medicare if they meet eligibility requirements. Medicare is an individual health insurance program, so if you have Medicare, you cannot also get it for your spouse or parents.
You may be able to help your parents or spouse begin the process of establishing permanent residency in the U.S. so they can meet Medicare residency eligibility requirements. To establish permanent legal residency, immigrants need a green card and may be able to apply for it through their family according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, your parents or spouse may apply for a green card by virtue of their relationship to you.
If all other eligibility requirements are met, individuals may be able to get premium-free Medicare Part A based on their own earnings or those of a spouse, parent, or child. More about costs for Medicare is detailed below.
Once immigrants meet residency requirements, eligibility and enrollment works the same as it does for other Medicare recipients. Immigrants must establish permanent legal residency by living in the U.S. for five continuous years prior to the month of filing an application for Medicare.
A green card allows immigrants to work and live in the U.S. According to U.S. Immigration laws, immigrants may be able to apply for a green card a variety of ways, including:
Immigrants must complete Form I-485, the application to register for permanent legal residence or adjust residency status. A sponsor or petitioner may complete the form on an immigrant’s behalf.
In addition to the permanent legal residency requirement, Medicare eligibility requirements include:
If you are eligible for Medicare due to disability, you must be receiving disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), or as a government employee.
The clock to establish the five-year permanent legal residency requirement for Medicare starts on the date you are granted permanent residence status. The USCIS website outlines Green Card processes and procedures to help you apply. The site offers information in several languages through its Multilingual Resource Center.
Immigrants who have established permanent residency and are under age 65 with disabilities may also qualify for Medicare. You first must meet the same eligibility requirements for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits that apply to citizens, which are based on work history, paying Social Security taxes on income, and having enough years of Social Security taxes accumulated to equal between 20 and 40 work credits (five to 10 years).
If you are under the age of 65, you may qualify for Medicare if you’ve been receiving monthly RRB disability benefits for a total disability for at least 24 months. The RRB uses Social Security guidelines to determine disability. .
There are a number of possible impairments that may qualify you for disability. Social Security considers you disabled if you can’t do the work you used to do because of your medical condition, you can’t perform other work due to your medical condition, and your disability is expected to last for at least 12 months or result in your death. See Social Security’s listing here. In addition to other disabilities, you may be eligible for Medicare coverage if
Medicare for immigrants costs vary depending on several factors detailed here:
Immigrants who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B are eligible to join a Medicare Advantage Plan available in their area. Medicare Advantage Plans are an alternate way to get your Medicare Part A and B benefits and typically also offer things Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as prescription drugs, dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
Medicare provides written resources listed in the table below in the following languages: Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hmong, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, Tongan, and Vietnamese. Learn about each topic by clicking on this link, selecting your language, and reading the resource published by the CMS.
| Resource | How To Use This Resource |
| Get Help with your Medicare costs | See if your income is at or below the limits in the chart on page two. Contact your state Medicaid office to see if you qualify for financial assistance through MSPs. |
| Medicare’s Coverage of Diabetes Supplies & Services | Read through the Medicare coverage of diabetes at-a-glance chart on pages six through eight for a quick overview of some of the diabetes services and supplies covered by Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. The entire booklet provides details about Medicare coverage and includes tips to help control diabetes. |
| Staying Healthy Medicare’s Preventive Services | Scroll through Medicare Part B’s coverage of preventive and screening services which is arranged alphabetically. |
| Have you done your Yearly Medicare Plan Review? | Read the two-page brochure about when you can change your Medicare plan, where to compare plans available in your area, and who to contact for assistance. |
| What Is Medicare? What Is Medicaid? | Read for a brief overview of Medicare federal health insurance and Medicaid financial assistance programs. |
| 4 Programs that Can Help You Pay Your Medical Expenses | Read for an explanation of federal and state programs that can help pay for health and prescription drug costs if you meet income limits. |
| Medicare Supplement Insurance | Read this overview of Medigap plans that may be available to you if you have Original Medicare Parts A and B. |
| A Quick Look at Medicare | A brief resource about Medicare health insurance and information about how to get the help you need to make decisions about your Medicare benefits. |
| Medicare Summary Notice for Part A (Hospital Insurance) | Review this form when you receive a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for services billed by Medicare Part A. Includes a number to call if you need translation services and information on how to file an appeal if you disagree with a denied claim. |
| Medicare Summary Notice for Part B (Medical Insurance) | Review this form when you receive a MSN for services billed by Medicare Part B. Includes a number to call if you need translation services and information on how to file an appeal if you disagree with a denied claim. |
| Stay Protected from COVID-19 – Medicare Covers the Vaccine | One page sheet with instructions about what you need to get the COVID-19 vaccine from Medicare and more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about how to stay protected. |
| Bring Your Medicare Card When You Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine | Shows what your red, white, and blue Medicare card looks like. |
| Medicare Covers the COVID-19 Vaccine | Read for information about how Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots. |
| Where to Get Your Medicare Questions Answered | Read to understand when to contact Medicare and when to contact SSA, including how to sign up for Medicare. |
As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.
A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.
As a CSA®, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.
As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.
A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.
As a CSA®, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.
