Medicare

The are a few ways to qualify for Medicare. The most common group eligible for Medicare is any U.S. Citizen over the age of 65. To qualify at age 65, you or your spouse will have had to work for at least 10 years while paying Medicare taxes, which is automatically deducted on most paychecks. Other groups that are eligible are: certain younger Americans with disabilities and people suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) a form of kidney disease.

If you are still working and your employer is offering you health benefits, you may be able to delay enrolling in Medicare. But it is important to find out if you are allowed to delay signing up, because if you enroll late (after the seven month enrolment period) you may have to pay a penalty.

No. Medicare is individual insurance, so your spouse needs to get his/her own Medicare coverage. BUT, only one of you has to have worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10 years in order for you both to qualify for Medicare when you each turn 65. AARP has some more great information about spouses qualifying for Medicare.

If you are already receiving Social Security benefits (which can begin as early as age 62), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare around your 65th birthday. Otherwise, you will have to enroll yourself within a 7-month period around when you turn 65, called you Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

You can sign up for Medicare online. You can also enroll in Medicare by phone or in person at any Social Security office. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, to make an appointment. Remember, if you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65.

This depends on your situation and what you may want to pay for. Part A, which covers hospital stays, nursing homes, hospice care, and home nursing is free for most people. Part B covers medical services that are necessary as well as preventative services, as well as ambulance rides. Part D covers prescriptions. Here is a good, complete breakdown of Medicare coverage.

In most cases, the answer is no. If you are receiving Social Security, the government assumes you are retired and eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, and they will automatically enroll you then. You may want to select additional parts of Medicare, however, as auto-enrollment only signs you up for parts A and B, which among other things, does not cover prescription drug costs.

Yes! As long as your doctor accepts Medicare as payment for services. If they do not, you will need to find another doctor who does. Most doctors do accept Medicare.

Yes you can. However there are specific times of year when you are allowed to do this. The main open enrollment period to make changes is from October until the end of the year, with your changes starting on January 1st. Here is some information about what you can change and when with Medicare.