What a widow or widower can access at age 60

A widow or widower can enroll in Medicare at age 60 through a pathway called Medicare as a surviving spouse. You do not have to wait until 65. The key requirement is that your late spouse had enough work history in Social Security — typically 10 years of covered earnings — and you have not remarried.

This is different from the standard Medicare enrollment at 65. You are using your spouse's work record rather than your own. The coverage you receive is the same: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) are both available to you at age 60, though you will pay a premium for Part B unless you meet income limits for subsidies.

The process starts with Social Security, not Medicare directly. You contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to report your spouse's death and ask about survivor benefits. During that conversation, you can ask about Medicare may be able to access as a surviving spouse. Social Security will determine whether your spouse's work record qualifies and will help you enroll.

Key Takeaways

  • Widows and widowers can enroll in Medicare at age 60 using their late spouse's Social Security work record if that spouse had roughly 10 years of covered earnings.
  • You must contact Social Security to begin the process, not Medicare directly, and you cannot have remarried.
  • Part A (hospital insurance) is typically free at age 60 for surviving spouses, but Part B (medical insurance) requires a monthly premium unless your income is very low.
  • Enrollment happens through Social Security, which coordinates with Medicare to set up your coverage once your may be able to access is confirmed.
  • If you remarry before age 60, you lose access to Medicare as a surviving spouse, though you may regain it if that marriage ends.

How your spouse's work record qualifies you

Social Security tracks work history through credits earned each year your spouse paid payroll taxes. Your late spouse typically needed 40 credits — roughly 10 years of full-time work — to have a record that qualifies you for survivor benefits, including Medicare access.

You do not need to have worked yourself. Your own earnings history does not matter for this pathway. Social Security will verify your spouse's record when you contact them, and they will tell you whether the work history is sufficient. If your spouse worked for a government agency that did not pay into Social Security, that work may not count toward the 40 credits, so it is worth asking Social Security directly rather than assuming.

What Part A and Part B cover at age 60

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay, hospice care, and some home health services. At age 60 as a surviving spouse, Part A is usually free — you do not pay a monthly premium. You will pay a deductible when you use hospital services, but the insurance itself costs nothing.

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, imaging, and preventive services. Part B does require a monthly premium, which varies by income. In 2024, the standard premium was around $175 per month, but if your income is below certain thresholds, you may pay less or nothing through a program called Medicaid Buy-In or may have access to Medicare Beneficiary (QMB). Your state Medicaid office can tell you whether you meet the income limits.

You are not required to enroll in Part B at age 60, but if you delay enrollment after becoming may be able to access, you may face a permanent premium penalty later. It is usually worth enrolling even if you do not use much medical care, to avoid that penalty.

The enrollment process and timeline

Start by contacting Social Security to report your spouse's death. You will need your spouse's Social Security number, your own Social Security number, and a copy of the death certificate. Social Security will verify your spouse's work record and your may be able to access as a surviving spouse.

Once Social Security confirms your may be able to access, they will send information to Medicare automatically. Medicare will then send you enrollment materials in the mail. You can also call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to confirm your enrollment or to ask questions about your coverage.

The entire process typically takes two to four weeks from the time you contact Social Security. During that time, you are not yet covered by Medicare, so if you need medical care before enrollment is complete, you will need to pay out of pocket or use any other insurance you have. It is worth contacting Social Security as soon as possible after your spouse's death to start the clock.

Remarriage and how it affects your coverage

If you remarry before age 60, you lose the right to enroll in Medicare as a surviving spouse. Your late spouse's work record no longer qualifies you once you are married to someone else.

If you remarry after age 60 — after you have already enrolled in Medicare as a surviving spouse — your coverage continues. Remarriage does not end Medicare once you are already enrolled.

If you remarry and then that marriage ends (through divorce or death), you may regain may be able to access to use your first spouse's record, but you will need to contact Social Security to update your status. The rules are complex depending on the timing and the details of your marriages, so it is worth calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your specific situation.

Other survivor benefits you may receive alongside Medicare

When you enroll in Medicare as a surviving spouse, you may also be may be able to access for survivor benefits — a monthly payment from Social Security based on your late spouse's earnings record. This is separate from Medicare itself, but the two often go together.

The amount of the monthly benefit depends on your spouse's lifetime earnings and the age at which you claim. Claiming at age 60 gives you a smaller monthly amount than waiting until your full retirement age (which varies by birth year, typically between 66 and 67). Social Security will explain both the Medicare enrollment and the survivor benefit amount when you contact them.

Some widows and widowers are also may be able to access for Medicaid based on income and assets, which can help pay Medicare premiums and cover costs that Medicare does not. Your state Medicaid office can tell you whether you meet the income and asset limits.

What to do if your spouse did not have enough work history

If your spouse worked fewer than 10 years in jobs covered by Social Security, you will not be able to enroll in Medicare at age 60 using their work record. You will have to wait until you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare on your own work record — or on a different family member's record if you meet the requirements.

If your spouse worked for a government agency, railroad, or other employer not covered by Social Security, their work may not count toward the 40 credits needed. In some cases, your spouse may have had a government pension instead of Social Security. Ask Social Security directly whether any of your spouse's work counts, because the rules vary by employer and by the years worked.

If you are not yet 65 and do not have Medicare access through your spouse, you may still have other options: employer coverage if you are still working, coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, or Medicaid if your income is low enough. Your state health insurance marketplace can help you explore those options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a certain age when my spouse died to use their work record?

No. Your spouse can have died at any age. What matters is that they had enough work history (roughly 10 years of covered earnings) and that you are now at least 60 years old. Social Security will verify the work record regardless of when your spouse passed away.

Can I enroll in Medicare as a surviving spouse if my spouse was divorced?

Yes, if you were married for at least 10 years before the divorce and you have not remarried. You can use your ex-spouse's work record to enroll in Medicare at age 60, even if they are still living. The rules are the same as for a widow or widower.

What happens to my Medicare if I move to another state?

Your Medicare coverage stays the same no matter where you live in the United States. Part A and Part B work in all 50 states. If you have Medicaid as well, coverage may change when you move, so contact your new state's Medicaid office to update your status.

Do I pay income tax on the survivor benefits I receive?

Possibly. If your total income (including the survivor benefit) exceeds certain thresholds, part of your survivor benefit may be taxable. Social Security will send you a form each year showing how much you received. A tax professional or your state tax office can help you determine whether you owe tax on the benefit.

Can I delay enrolling in Medicare at 60 and enroll later?

Yes, but delaying Part B enrollment after you become may be able to access may result in a permanent premium penalty. Part A (hospital insurance) does not have a penalty for late enrollment. If you have other health coverage through an employer or a spouse's employer, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty — ask Medicare about your specific situation.