Qualifications for Medicare Benefits

Medicare was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. At the time, Medicare was made up of two parts, A and B. A and B have come to be known as Original Medicare and offers insurance inpatient and outpatient hospital care, home health services, hospice, skilled nursing facility care and preventive services. In 1997, Medicare Advantage was created, which allows users to purchase Medicare from private insurance companies. And in 2003, Part D prescription drug benefits joined the Medicare program.

Age

• Medicare was designed to be used mainly by people aged 65 or older. Most U.S. citizens are automatically eligible for Medicare as they near their 65th birthday. The initial enrollment period for Medicare lasts from three months before your birthday month to three months after. During this time, you will have to contact the Social Security Administration to enroll. If you are already receiving retirement or disability benefits from Social Security, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare automatically.

Disability

• Citizens or permanent residents who have certain disabilities and health conditions may be able to enroll in Medicare before they turn 65. If you have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 25 months, you qualify for Medicare even if you are younger than 65. You also qualify under 65 if you have Lou Gehrig's Disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. People younger than 65 with permanent kidney failure can enroll in Medicare if they have paid 10 years of Medicare taxes, are the spouse or child of someone who has paid 10 years of Medicare taxes or already receive Social Security or railroad retirement board benefits.

Premiums

• In general, people aged 65 or older who have paid at least 40 quarters, or 10 years, of taxes into Medicare can enroll in Part A without being responsible for monthly premiums. If not, you can still enroll in Part A if you pay premium costs. The costs of buying Part A depends on how much, if any, you have paid into the system. Part B requires a monthly premium payment by everyone. If you qualify for Medicare but cannot pay the premiums, you may be able to get assistance from your state Medicaid or Medicare Savings programs.

Marriage

• Even if you did not personally pay 40 quarters of Medicare taxes, you are still eligible to enroll in the program if you are married to someone who did. You must also be aged 65 or older, however. If you want to purchase a Medicare supplemental policy, you will have to purchase your own as Medigap policies only cover one person.