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Someone made the following comment on a Discussion Board:
Quote:
Furthermore, not everybody age 65 is eligible for Medicare. Only those who have enough credits with Social Security get it and Social Security.
This person implies that one may have enough credits for SS but not for Medicare. I might be in that group. In my total life I only accumulated about ten years worth of work time and that just gets me under the fence for SS. I'll call the SS office if I have to but it's a nightmare dealing with them if I'm even able to get through to a live person. Does anyone know if 10 years work might not be enough to get Medicare?
From the website ssa.gov/pubs:
Most people age 65 or older who are citizens or *permanent residents of the United States are eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A). You are eligible at age 65 if:
* You receive or are eligible to receive Social Security benefits; or
* You receive or are eligible to receive railroad retirement benefits; or
* You or your spouse (living or deceased, including divorced spouses) worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid; or
* You are the dependent parent of a fully insured deceased child.
If you do not meet these requirements, you may be able to get Medicare hospital insurance by paying
a monthly premium. Usually, you can sign up for this hospital insurance only during designated enrollment periods.
NOTE: Even though the full retirement age is no longer 65, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.
Someone made the following comment on a Discussion Board:
This person implies that one may have enough credits for SS but not for Medicare. I might be in that group. In my total life I only accumulated about ten years worth of work time and that just gets me under the fence for SS. I'll call the SS office if I have to but it's a nightmare dealing with them if I'm even able to get through to a live person. Does anyone know if 10 years work might not be enough to get Medicare?
If you pay into SS you shoiuld get a statement I belieive that tells you if you are quailtied yet for SS or how many quarters you need plus if your qualified for medicare at 65. They also give you a estimate under the current law that is pretty close on what you will get at 62 and 66.I recently took it at 62 and the amount loking bacxk has been pretty close except that I got more raise than estimated in earlier estimates.
If you pay into SS you shoiuld get a statement I belieive that tells you if you are quailtied yet for SS or how many quarters you need plus if your qualified for medicare at 65. They also give you a estimate under the current law that is pretty close on what you will get at 62 and 66.I recently took it at 62 and the amount loking bacxk has been pretty close except that I got more raise than estimated in earlier estimates.
You're absolutely right, Dav. I pulled one out (I'd never gotten past the amount I'm going to get at 62, which is measly, but that's my fault) and right there under Medicare it states that I qualify. Thanks so much. Now I don't have to have nightmares over contacting the SS office in the short-run and not having health care when I turn 65 in the long-run (otherwise it'd be a long run down to Mexico to get on their system)
Sounds like you got your answer, but FYI you (or anyone reading this) can also contact your state's SHIP office, talk to a live, trained/certified volunteer and get all your questions answered and more information than you ever wanted about Medicare, how to qualify, supplemental coverage, rx. coverage, etc.
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