Can immigrants enroll in Medicare? I heard there is a recent law that changes Medicare coverage for immigrants, including those that are lawfully present. How will it affect me?

It depends on your status as a lawfully present immigrant and whether you meet Medicare’s other eligibility requirements. A federal law enacted in July 2025 limits Medicare eligibility to U.S. citizens and nationals, permanent residents (i.e., green card holders), Cuban-Haitian entrants, and people residing under the Compacts of Free Association. This means that lawfully present immigrants who don’t meet these criteria, such as refugees, asylees, and people with Temporary Protected Status, are no longer eligible for Medicare. If you currently have Medicare coverage and do not meet these criteria, your Medicare coverage will be terminated no later than January 4, 2027.

The citizenship and immigration-status requirements described above are only one part of determining Medicare eligibility. People must also quality based on basis of age, disability, ALS, or end-stage renal disease and meet applicable work history or residency requirements. People age 65 and older, including citizens and immigrants with an eligible status, generally qualify for premium-free Part A if they or their spouse worked for at least 40 quarters (10 years) in jobs for which they paid Medicare payroll taxes. People age 65 and older who are otherwise eligible but lack this work history may be able to enroll in Part A by paying a monthly premium. Lawful permanent residents using this enrollment pathway generally must have resided continuously in the U.S. for five years. People under age 65, including U.S citizens and immigrants with an eligible status, can also qualify for Medicare based on a disability. In most cases, they must first qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance based on their disability and work history and then receive SSDI benefits for 24 months before Medicare coverage begins. The number of work credits required to qualify for SSDI varies based on the person’s age. Different eligibility and waiting-period rules apply to people with ALS or end-stage renal disease.