No, Medicare is not changing to age 62. The eligibility age for Medicare remains 65 for most people. While you can claim reduced Social Security retirement benefits at 62, you cannot enroll in Medicare until you turn 65, unless you have a qualifying disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS.
The current full retirement age is 67 years old for people attaining age 62 in 2026. (The age for Medicare eligibility remains at 65.)
No, there is nothing that you need to do at age 62 for Medicare enrollment.
No, the Medicare eligibility age is not changing to 67. The phase-in of raising the retirement age to 67, which began in 1983, was completed in 2023. This keeps the retirement age static at 67 years for those who turn 62 in 2022 or later. However, the Medicare eligibility age remains at 65 years for most people.
In November 2025, the full retirement age (FRA) — the age at which individuals qualify to receive 100% of their Social Security benefits — increased to 66 years and 10 months for those born in 1959. FRA gradually rises month by month, so in November 2025, those born in January 1959 reached their FRA.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA):
For the January to March 2025 period, there won't be an increase, as the CPI showed a small dip over the last three months. But don't worry—over the past year, benefits have still grown by 2.0%, helping seniors keep pace with rising living costs.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
Starting in 2025, there is an annual limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for prescription medications through Medicare and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans. All prescription medications, including specialty medications, covered by Part D plans are included under this cap.
In 2026, Medicare brings higher costs for Parts A & B (premiums, deductibles), but also significant prescription drug savings, including a new $2,100 Part D out-of-pocket cap, continued $35 insulin cap, and new negotiated drug prices; plus, enhanced preventive care (like mental health/heart screenings) and stricter Medicare Advantage rules are coming, driven by the Inflation Reduction Act.
One of the most notable changes in 2025 is the removal of the coverage gap, also known as the "donut hole." This simplifies the coverage stages to just three, which include: Annual Deductible, Initial Coverage and Catastrophic Coverage.
Here are some of the biggest Medicare mistakes to avoid:
People retire at 62, the earliest age for Social Security, to gain freedom, pursue passions, simplify life, or because of health issues or job loss, but it means accepting permanently reduced Social Security benefits and needing a solid financial plan to cover a potentially long retirement and the gap before Medicare eligibility at 65. It's a strategic choice balancing immediate lifestyle benefits (more time for hobbies, family, travel) with financial trade-offs, often involving lower monthly Social Security checks.
No, you can't qualify for Medicare before age 65 unless you have a disabling medical condition. People younger than 65 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits typically get Medicare 24 months after they become eligible for disability benefits.
You can receive Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, we'll reduce your benefits if you start receiving them before your full retirement age. For example, if you turn age 62 in 2026, your benefit would be about 30% lower than it would be at your full retirement age of 67.
In 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is ending a program called the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model. This program helped health plans give extra non-medical benefits, like credits for healthy food and utilities.
For the average retired worker, the 2.8 percent COLA is expected to increase their monthly benefit by about $56. This will raise the average payment from approximately $2,008 in 2025 to about $2,064 in 2026. Social Security retirement beneficiaries will see this increase reflected in their January 2026 payments.
There could be several reasons why Social Security stopped withholding your Medicare Part B premium. One common reason is that your income has exceeded the threshold for premium assistance. Another reason could be that there was a mistake or error in your records.