When and I Eligible for Medicare?

Think you aren't eligible for Medicare until you're 65? Think again. You can receive Medicare benefits at an earlier age if you have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, you receive a disability pension from the railroad retirement board and meet certain conditions, you have Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or you, your parent or your spouse (living or deceased, including a divorced spouse) worked long enough in a Medicare-covered government job and meet other necessary requirements.