How Old Do You Need To Be For Medicare? 
You normally need to be age 65 to get Medicare . You are automatically enrolled in Medicare at age 65 if you or your spouse has paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters . You can get Medicare under age 65 if you have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months , are disabled and have ALS , or have worked for a government job long enough to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits . You might also qualify under age 65 if your partner has died or you are divorced from a partner who qualified for Medicare , or if you have received a kidney transplant or dialysis , in some situations . 