GO TO: Medicare HOME | Meeting Agenda for December 2, 1998

Variable:

• Raise Medicare’s eligibility age to Social Security’s normal retirement age

Rationale/Concern:

• Since Medicare was established, men’s life expectancy has increased from 67 to 73 years and women’s life expectancy has increased from 73 to 79

• Raising the eligibility age may cause at least 10% of the previously eligible Medicare beneficiaries aged 65-67 to be uninsured when this policy is fully implemented, according to one study. Social Security offers seniors the option of accessing reduced retirement benefits at 62.

• The age would be gradually raised from 65 to 67 over the 2003-2027 period. Those turning 65 between 2001-2035 gain eligibility based on an increase in retirement age of one month for every year:

Current Age	Impact
62 or over	No impact
61	Eligible at 65 + 1 month
60	Eligible at 65 + 2 months
59	Eligible at 65 + 3 months
38 or under	Eligible at 67

Fiscal impact:

• Moderate savings

Back to Top