November 13, 2026 - KFF Answers Medicare Questions:

My husband and I are retired. He just turned 65 and is now covered by Medicare, but I am 62 and I don’t have health insurance. As the spouse of a Medicare beneficiary, can I enroll in Medicare during the Medicare Open Enrollment period?

No. Although your husband now qualifies for Medicare, you will not qualify for Medicare until you turn age 65. If you do not have health insurance now, you can consider signing up for health insurance coverage through a Marketplace plan. If your household income is at least 100% of the federal poverty level (for buying Marketplace coverage in 2027, that means an income of $21,640 for a couple), you may qualify for premium tax credits to reduce your cost of a Marketplace policy. If your household income is at or below 138% of poverty (about $29,863 for a couple), you might be eligible for Medicaid if you live in a state that has expanded its Medicaid program.

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While every effort has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information in these FAQs, people should contact Medicare, Social Security, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP), or companies offering Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans and Medigap policies directly for guidance on individual circumstances.

Source: KFF