Who Is Eligible for Medicare?

Medicare is generally available for people age 65 and older, younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage kidney disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). Medicare has two parts, Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (Medicare insurance). You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without paying premiums if:

— Get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

— You are eligible for Social Security or Railroad benefits, but you haven't applied for them yet.

— You or your spouse had a government job covered by Medicare.

To find out if you're eligible and your expected premium, go to the Medicare.gov eligibility tool.

If you (or your spouse) didn't pay Medicare taxes while working, and you're 65 or older and you're a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you may be able to buy Part A. If you're under 65, you can get Part A without paying premiums if:

— You have been entitled to Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months. (Note: If you have Lou Gehrig's disease, your Medicare benefits start the first month you receive disability benefits.)

— You are a dialysis or kidney transplant patient.

While most people don't have to pay a premium for Part A, everyone must pay for Part B if they want to. This monthly premium is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don't receive any of these payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.

Prescription drug coverage

Since January 1, 2006, all people with Medicare, regardless of income, health status or prescription drug use, have had access to prescription drug coverage. For more information, you can visit the Prescription Drug Coverage site.

Source: Www.hhs.gov