Medicare beneficiaries receive Part A benefits to pay for hospital and nursing expenses, Part B benefits to pay for doctor's visits and medical supplies and Part D benefits to pay prescription drug costs. Medicare is not open to everyone, which means you must meet the qualifications criteria to receive benefits. Because Medicare is a federal program, the qualifications are the same in Kentucky as they are in all states.
Citzenship
You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful immigrant to qualify for Medicare benefits. If you are an immigrant, you must have lived in the United States for at least five years.
Age
People become eligible for Medicare at age 65. People under age 65 may qualify for Medicare if they are permanently disabled or suffer from a life-threatening condition, such as end-stage renal failure.
Work Credits
Depending on your age and the disability or disease for which you require Medicare, if you are age 21 or older, you must have earned between six and 40 work credits to be eligible for full coverage under Medicare. Full coverage means you pay the minimum premium, or, in some cases, no premium at all. If you do not have enough credits, you will pay a higher monthly premium.
People age 65 and older must have at least 40 work credits to qualify for full coverage under Medicare. People with end-stage renal disease and those with permanent disabilities must have earned at least one work credit for each year after age 21. If you developed end-stage renal disease between the ages of 21 and 28, you must have earned at least six work credits. Children and people who became disabled or developed renal failure before age 21 do not require any work credits to qualify for Medicare.
Part D Qualification
You automatically qualify for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage if you receive Medicare Part A or B. Although Part D coverage requires monthly premiums, people with low incomes can receive payment assistance. People with higher incomes will pay a higher premium.
Tags: must have, qualify Medicare, work credits, end-stage renal, have earned, least work, Medicare Part
