There were almost 47 million Medicare beneficiaries in 2010.
The Medicare national health program was created, along with Medicaid, in 1965 as part of the Social Security Act. Medicare was originally two parts, named A and B. As of 2011, Parts A and B are still the major parts of the program, although two more parts have been added. Part A offers inpatient hospital services, home health and hospice care, while Part B covers preventive services and outpatient hospital care. Medicare is meant primarily for seniors aged 65 years and older, but you can enroll in Part A before 65 under certain circumstances.
Are You Married to a Medicare Beneficiary?
Generally, if your spouse is enrolled in premium-free Part A Medicare benefits, you also qualify for premium-free Medicare. Premium-free Part A is offered to people aged 65 or older who have already paid 40 quarters, or 10 years, of Medicare taxes. However, this only applies to spouses who are also 65 years old. If you are not 65, you cannot enroll in Medicare Part A, even though you are married to someone who is, unless you have specific health conditions or disabilities.
Are You Disabled?
Disabled people under the age of 65 who have been collecting benefits from Social Security for at least 24 months qualify for Medicare. The Social Security Administration has the final say regarding who counts as disabled, but the general qualifications are that you cannot do the same work you did before becoming disabled, your condition is expected to last for at least one year or end in death, and you cannot switch to other kinds of work because of your disability. You may also be able to enroll in Medicare Part A under 65 if you get disability pension benefits from the railroad retirement board.
Do You Have Lou Gehrig's Disease?
If you have Lou Gehrig's disease and also receive Social Security benefits, you can enroll in Medicare before the age of 65. Lou Gehrig's disease, officially named amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a degenerative disease which causes nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain to die, causing muscle weakness, speech problems, weight loss and paralysis. As of 2011, there is no cure for ALS.
Do You Suffer From Kidney Failure?
If you have been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and you need either a kidney transplant or regular maintenance dialysis, you may qualify for Medicare under the age of 65 years old. Just having kidney failure is not enough, however. You must also be eligible for, or already receiving, Social security payments or railroad retirement board payments or have worked in a government job that covers Medicare. If not, you still qualify if you are the spouse or child of someone who has worked long enough in a job which covered Social Security or a government job that covered Medicare. Divorced spouses qualify as well as those still married.
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