If Your Spouse Has Medicare Do You Get It?

Medicare benefits are provided by the federal government to people who are at least 65 years of age or disabled. If you did not contribute enough to Medicare to get free coverage for yourself, you may qualify to receive benefits based on your spouse's work history, or you may be able to buy Medicare coverage.

Medicare for Spouses

• People who pay Medicare tax are entitled to receive free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) when they turn 65 years of age (or after they receive disability benefits for two years). You can enroll in Medicare if your spouse has worked and paid these taxes, even if you did not. However, if your spouse is enrolled in Medicare, you are not protected by his coverage. Medicare is an individual benefit, not a family benefit. To receive Medicare coverage, you must be enrolled in Medicare and receive your own Medicare card.

Enrolling in Medicare

• If you wish to sign up to receive Medicare benefits based on your spouse's work, you should do so during the period starting three months before you turn 65 years of age. If you do not sign up during this period, you might be required to pay a late penalty with your monthly premiums. Medicare tax provides only for Medicare Part A free benefits. Medical insurance (Part B), private plans with additional coverage (Part C) and prescription drug plans (Part D) all come at monthly costs. If your spouse who is older than you is already receiving benefits because of his age, this does not mean you are also covered. You need to contact the Social Security Administration offices in your state to sign up for benefits.

Automatic Enrollment

• You can also receive Social Security retirement benefits based on your spouse's work. You can start these benefits as early as 62 years of age. If you retire before Medicare enrollment age, the Social Security Administration automatically enrolls you in Medicare Part A and Part B. You can choose to cancel Part B coverage if you do not want to pay for it, or you can keep it and add other Medicare coverages to it. The enrollment period to sign up for other Medicare coverages also starts three months before you turn 65 years old.

Choosing the Right Coverage for You

• One of the advantages of not being covered along with your spouse is that you can choose your own coverage and the plans that are right for you. You can choose to add a Part C plan that includes dental coverage or you can choose a Part C with vision coverage included. You can also decide if you want to have a prescription drug plan (Part D) or a Part C plan that includes prescription drug coverage. You can also choose to add a Medigap policy (Medicare Supplement Insurance) instead of a Part C plan.