For over five decades, Medicare has offered coverage to millions of Americans and helped pay for some of the most important health care services, like hospital care and doctor visits.
Medicare has two main parts. Part A is hospital insurance. It helps pay for inpatient hospital care, home health care services, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some other kinds of medical care. Part B is medical insurance. It helps pay for doctor's services, outpatient therapy, preventive services, lab tests, x-rays, and other medical services.
But it can be complicated to understand. That's why we have drawn up a guide to help individuals determine if they are eligible for Medicare benefits! Faster and easier than ever before.
Individuals 65 or older qualify for full Medicare benefits if:
- They are a U.S. citizen.
- They are a permanent legal resident who has been living in the United States for at least five years.
- They are being handed Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits or if they have worked long enough in the country to be eligible for those benefits but are not yet collecting them.
- Them or their spouse is a government employee or retiree who has paid Medicare payroll taxes while working.
Individuals younger than 65 may still be eligible if:
- They've been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months (not necessarily consecutively); or
- The Railroad Retirement Board's disability pension is received by them.
- They suffer from Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ASL), which makes them immediately eligible.
- They have permanent kidney failure that warrants regular dialysis or a transplant, plus, the individual or their spouse has made payments towards Social Security taxes for a specified period, depending on their age.
Other ways to get Medicare coverage:
If the individual is a citizen of the United States or has been a legal resident for a minimum duration of five years and does not qualify on their own or via their spouse's work record, they can enjoy all the Medicare benefits at age 65 or older. All they must do is buy into them by looking into:
- Paying premiums for Part A: The amount one has to pay for Part A depends on how long they've been working. The longer they've worked, the more work credits they have to their name. These credits are earned based on the income one draws.
Paying the same premiums every month for Part B: This provides coverage for doctor visits and other outpatient services.
Paying the same premium every month for Part D: This provides coverage for prescription drugs.
