Medicare Part A underwrites the cost of hospital, nursing and home-care services for eligible Americans (citizens or legal residents) over the age of 65. You will be automatically enrolled in the program if you have paid Social Security taxes for 40 quarters. Certain disabled people can also qualify for the program if they are under 65.
Benefits
Medicare Part A covers hospital stays (semi-private room, meals and other services) plus inpatient skilled nursing care, hospice care and home health care services. Participants in the program must meet a deductible, which is $1,132 as of 2011; they also typically enroll in Medicare Part B at the same time, which covers doctor visits. Unlike Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B requires a monthly premium.
Coverage
You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A upon turning 65, provided you meet the other eligibility criteria. Coverage will begin on the first day of the month of your birthday. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, coverage will begin on the first day of the preceding month. You can enroll in Medicare prior to turning 65 if you have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months or suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease.
Work History
Because Medicare is paid for out of Social Security taxes, you need to meet Medicare's work history requirements. You must have worked at least 10 years (40 quarters) in Medicare-covered employment. The 40 quarters do not need to be continuous. For example, a parent who worked for five years, then took time off to raise children and later went back to work for another five years would fulfill the requirement. Self-employed individuals can meet the requirement assuming they paid Social Security taxes for the required time period.
Purchasing Part A
For most people, Medicare Part A is available without the need to pay a premium. However, uninsured individuals over 65 can still receive Part A coverage by paying a monthly premium. Unlike people who begin receiving Medicare upon turning 65, this does not happen automatically. To enroll, the individual must fill out an application at a Social Security office. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or be a legally admitted alien who has resided in the country for at least five years at the time of the application.
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