There are so many reasons to celebrate your 65th birthday! You have another amazing year to look forward to. Knowing how important it is to have access to affordable health care, you can also add Medicare eligibility to that list.

Eligibility for Medicare Based on Age

The U.S. Government wants to provide care for the people who need it most — though I would argue that everyone deserves health care! After you meet the requirement for U.S. citizenship or legal residency, you have to qualify for Medicare based on age or disability. The government sees these groups as having the highest medical need.

To qualify based on age, you need to be 65 years old. Most people qualify this way, as many as 86% of all Medicare recipients. It’s not like there’s a magic switch that turns on for your 65th birthday, so what gives?

Why 65 Years Old?

Back in 1965, when Medicare was first signed into law, older adults were least likely to have health insurance. Less than half had any kind of hospital coverage and even fewer had coverage for out-of-hospital (i.e., outpatient) care. As they approached or went into retirement, they did not have much income to afford health care.

Because of a lack insurance back then, only 1 in 4 people bothered to see a doctor for chest pain. That was when deaths from heart disease were more than 750 per 100,000 people! As a point of reference, in 2021, heart disease deaths were 167 deaths per 100,000 people. Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States today, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths in the country. It makes you think: How many people went untreated before Medicare?

The Natural Process of Aging

Age itself is not a medical problem. You can live your fullest life at any age!

That said, your body changes as you get older. It’s part of the human condition. Below is a list of some of those changes.

Cardiovascular system: Blood vessels get stiffer, which could be associated with increased blood pressure readings. The heart may not speed up as quickly with exercise.

Digestive system: Food exits the stomach more slowly, affecting digestion and absorption of food and medications. Because the colon slows down too, you could be more prone to constipation. Less insulin may be made in the pancreas and your body may be less sensitive to the insulin that you do make.

Hematologic system: Fewer blood cells are produced, increasing the risk for anemia. The immune system works slower too, which could put you at greater risk for infection.

Musculoskeletal system: Ligaments and tendons tend to lose their elasticity and you may lose muscle mass. The bones become less dense and at risk for fractures.

Sensory system: Changes in the eyes and ears may affect your vision and hearing. With less tear production, you may be more prone to dry eyes. With less saliva produced, dry mouth becomes more common.

Urinary system: Hormones and changes in the kidney may make it easier to get dehydrated. Changes to the bladder may cause you to urinate more frequently.

Chronic Medical Conditions

The natural changes that come with aging may affect you more than other people and vice versa. Either way, you will want access to care to make sure you stay in your best health.

Chronic medical conditions become more common as you get older too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 87% of adult 65 and older have at least one chronic condition and 64% have at least two. That could increase your need for health care. You will want Medicare on your side if that’s the case.

All in all, your 65th birthday is one that will make you think about issues like this. Being eligible for Medicare is something to celebrate.

 

Boersma, P., Black, L. I., & Ward, B. W. (2020). Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, 2018. Preventing Chronic Disease, 17. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200130

Heart Disease Facts. (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

Mensah, G. A., Wei, G. S., Sorlie, P. D., Fine, L. J., Rosenberg, Y., Kaufmann, P. G., Mussolino, M. E., Hsu, L. L., Addou, E., Engelgau, M. M., & Gordon, D. (2017). Decline in Cardiovascular Mortality. Circulation Research, 120(2), 366–380. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.116.309115

Quarterly Provisional Estimates for Mortality Dashboard. (2022). National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/mortality-dashboard.htm#

A Snapshot of Sources of Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries in 2018. (2021). KFF. https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/a-snapshot-of-sources-of-coverage-among-medicare-beneficiaries-in-2018/

Stefanacci, R. G. (2022). Changes in the Body With Aging. Merck Manuals Consumer Version; Merck Manuals. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/older-people%E2%80%99s-health-issues/the-aging-body/changes-in-the-body-with-aging

Stevens RA. (1996). Health Care in the Early 1960s. Healthcare Financing Review, 18(2): 11-22. https://www.ssa.gov/history/pdf/HealthCareEarly1960s.pdf