Spouses must each buy their own Medicare supplement plans.
Medicare originally came in only two parts, named simply Medicare Parts A and B. Parts A and B are still the main Medicare plans, but they have been joined by Part C, called Medicare Advantage, and Part D, a prescription plan. Part A is the only section that is provided at no cost to most eligible Americans, and you must have it before you can enroll in any other part of the Medicare program. Part A covers inpatient hospital care, home health services and hospice, while optional Parts B through D offer additional benefits for preventive services, outpatient hospital care and prescription drugs, and these parts require premium payments. You must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for Part A.
Age
Medicare is meant mainly for use by senior citizens. You must be at least 65 before you can enroll, in most cases. The initial enrollment period for the average person runs from three months before the month in which the individual has his 65th birthday to three months after, for a total of seven months. During this period, contact your local Social Security Administration to sign up for Part A. You are eligible to enroll in any other parts of Medicare at the same time, but Parts B, C and D are optional.
Marriage
If you are 65 years old and have worked and paid Medicare taxes for a minimum of 40 quarters, or ten years, you are eligible for premium-free Part A. You are still responsible for all deductibles, copays and coinsurance costs, but you will not have to pay monthly premiums. You are also eligible for premium-free Part A if you are the current or former spouse of a person who worked 40 quarters. Your spouse does not have to be living for you to be eligible, nor do you have to be married at the time at the time you apply. If your spouse is 65 or older, and you are not, you will not be eligible to enroll until you reach 65.
Health Conditions
If you are under 65 and already receiving Social Security disability benefits, you may be eligible for premium-free Part A Medicare, regardless of whether you or your spouse paid 40 quarters of taxes. People of any age who have received Social Security Administration disability benefits for 24 months or who are receiving SSA benefits because they have end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig's Disease, can enroll in Medicare. An individual already receiving Social Security benefits is enrolled in Part A Medicare automatically when she approaches her 65th birthday.
Part A Premiums
If you or your spouse did not work 40 quarters during your lifetime, and you do not qualify for premium-free Part A any other way, you can still sign up for Medicare if you make monthly premium payments. The premiums are based on how many quarters you or your spouse paid taxes. In 2011, if you or your spouse paid taxes for 30 to 39 months, the premium for each individual is $248 per month. If you paid taxes for fewer than 30 quarters, your premium is $450 per month.
Tags: premium-free Part, Social Security, eligible premium-free, eligible premium-free Part, paid taxes, Part Medicare, spouse paid
