Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER XVIII — HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED › Part B — Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for Aged and Disabled › § 1395o
People can sign up for the medical insurance program under this part if they already get hospital insurance (Part A), or if they are 65 or older, live in the United States, and are either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. continuously for the five years right before they apply. If a person’s Part A benefits end for the reason in section 426–1(b)(2) (whether before, on, or after January 1, 2023), they can enroll — or be treated as enrolled — in this medical insurance only to get coverage for immunosuppressive drugs under section 1395p(n). They cannot get that drug-only coverage while they already have other coverage, such as a group or individual health plan, TRICARE for Life, a State Medicaid or CHIP plan that covers those drugs, or certain VA coverage. The Secretary, with the Social Security Commissioner, must set up a process to check eligibility. That process must require the person to declare they are not enrolled and do not expect to enroll in other coverage, and to tell the Commissioner within 60 days if they do enroll.
Full Legal Text
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1395o
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110