Medicare Spouse Eligibility

The Medicare program helps seniors with medical costs and provides health insurance. Most American citizens are eligible to receive Medicare when they reach retirement age, and those who are not eligible to receive the benefits that are free can purchase Medicare coverage and enjoy the same benefits. Medicare Part A is the only free coverage offered through Medicare. Medicare also provides spousal benefits.

Medicare Eligibility

• Medicare Part A is free only for those people who paid Medicare tax while working. If you are the spouse of a person who has worked and paid Medicare tax, even though you have never worked and paid Medicare tax, you are also eligible to receive Medicare Part A free coverage. If you are disabled and younger than 65 years of age, you must first qualify to receive disability benefits for at least two years before you qualify for Medicare. If you are about to turn 65 years of age, you already qualify to enroll in Medicare based on your spouse's Medicare tax payments.

Medicare Part A Spouse Eligibility

• As a qualifying spouse (meaning that your spouse paid Medicare tax), you can enroll in Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. You also have up to three full months after your birthday to enroll. If you enroll after this period you must pay a late penalty. To enroll, you must contact the Social Security office in person or you can call the office at the number provided in the handbook Medicare and You. If your spouse is already receiving Social Security retirement benefits and you are also receiving it through your spouse's Social Security credits, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you turn 65 years of age. As of 2011, one credit is equivalent to $1,120 of earned income.

Other Spousal Medicare Eligibilities

• Enrollment in Medicare Part A, which is hospital insurance, usually determines eligibility for enrollment in other types of Medicare coverage. If you are eligible to enroll in Part A based on your spouse's work, you are also eligible to enroll in Medicare Part B, which is medical insurance. To be eligible to enroll in Medicare Part C, which provides additional coverage to Part A and Part B and is provided by private companies, you must be enrolled in Part A and Part B. To be eligible to enroll in Medicare Part D, which is prescription drug coverage, you also must enroll in Part A or Part B.

Medicare Premiums

• Paying Medicare tax gives you free Medicare Part A benefits. However, even if you or your spouse have paid Medicare tax, you must still pay monthly premiums for other Medicare coverage. The amount you must pay per month to be enrolled in each part of Medicare varies according to the plans you choose and the coverage they provide. Medicare Part B and Part D premiums also depend upon your and your spouse's combined annual income. People with higher income pay higher premiums.