What do you need to apply for a Medicare card in the United States?

An applicant for a Medicare card must be at least 65 years old and must have worked long enough to be eligible for Social Security. When applying, it is necessary to furnish work details from the past 10 years, including names and dates.

Spouses, parents and children of those who qualify for Medicare are also able to apply based on their family member's work history. Eligibility for Medicare is based on a system of quarters of coverage, determined by the number of whole or partial years worked at a job in which an applicant paid into a Social Security account.