Applying For Medicare While Still Working – Medicare is available to people 65 and older, regardless of their work history. However, if you haven’t worked and paid into Medicare for at least 10 years, you may pay higher premiums for Part A and Part B.
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Applying For Medicare While Still Working

APA Turner, T. (2023, October 20). Can You Get Medicare If You’ve Never Worked? . Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https:///medicare/eligibility-and-enrollment/never-worked/
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Chicago Turner, Terry. “Can You Get Medicare If You Don’t Work Much?” . It was last modified on October 20, 2023. https:///medicare/eligibility-and-enrollment/never-worked/.
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Your Medicare Part A premiums are usually paid while you work because you pay into Medicare while you work. If you’ve never worked, you’re not eligible for a free Part A premium, unless your spouse is eligible for work or you have a disability. Part A covers hospital care and hospital stays.
Late Enrollment Penalty
You can still get Part A without a premium without a work history if your spouse has worked and paid Medicare for at least 40 quarters (10 years) or if you have a disability. Otherwise, you have to pay a monthly premium like any other insurance. This premium can be reduced if you spend time at work.
For example, if you have worked for many years but stopped your career to become a stay-at-home parent or for some other reason, you may qualify for a reduced premium.
If you or your spouse have never worked, your 2024 Part A premium will be $505. But if you or your spouse spent at least 30 to 39 quarters in the workforce and paid Medicare taxes, your premium can drop to $278.
Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient care, has a monthly premium that is not affected by your work history.
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If you’ve never worked, there are additional ways to qualify for Medicare, and those with no work history can still get Medicare Part A without a premium. Understanding your eligibility is an important first step to securing the coverage that’s right for you. Christian Worstell Free Medicare Coverage Script
Even if you haven’t worked or haven’t worked long enough, there are still circumstances in which you may qualify for free Medicare coverage. These circumstances include your spouse’s employment status and whether you have a disability or certain condition.
If you’ve never worked but your spouse does, you should be eligible for a free Part A premium through them. Your spouse’s work history also applies to you. This also applies if you are married, divorced or widowed.

You are eligible for assistance if you have been married for at least one year and your spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits or retirement benefits.
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You are eligible for benefits if you have been married for at least 10 years and your spouse is eligible for Social Security or retirement benefits.
You are eligible to receive benefits if you have been married for at least nine months and are currently single, and your spouse was eligible for Social Security benefits—either disability or retirement—before they died.
But remember that you can’t be enrolled in their plan because Medicare works like individual insurance. You can waive your plan premiums.
If your spouse is working and paying into Medicare, but under the full 40 quarters, you are not eligible for premium-free Medicare through them.
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Regardless of your work history, you can get Medicare at no extra cost if you have received Social Security Disability Insurance or Railroad Retirement Board for at least two years.
You are also eligible if you have Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS or end-stage renal disease. You can get Medicare before you turn 65 in all of these cases.
You must have been diagnosed with ESRD and have had a kidney transplant or received dialysis. If you receive dialysis at home, you can apply for Medicare on the day of your first treatment. If you receive dialysis in a facility, you can apply for Medicare on the first day of the fourth month of treatment.
Things To Do Before You Enroll In A Medicare Plan
You are automatically entitled to free Medicare Part A once your Social Security Disability benefits begin. But there is a five-month waiting period before you can start receiving Social Security or Medicare benefits if you sign up for SSDI. Beware of delay.
Regardless of your work history, different parts of Medicare have appropriate price tags. But whether or not your spouse works affects your premiums, so it affects your Part A costs.
$505 a month if you don’t qualify for no-premium coverage — that can drop to $278 if you spend time at work.
If you’ve never worked and aren’t eligible for premium-free Medicare, health care can be a significant expense for you in retirement. If you need help paying your Medicare premiums, there are several options available.
Stay Away From Scams This Medicare Open Enrollment Period
Medicaid is an assistance program designed to help cover your health care if you cannot afford other forms of insurance. Generally, you can only get Medicaid if your income is low.
A Medicare Savings Account, or MSA, is a type of Medicare Advantage plan that includes a high deductible and a bank account to help pay for your health care costs. These may be options if you are in good health and rarely see a doctor or need extensive medical care. Beneficiaries are usually lower, but deductibles and costs may be higher than other Medicare plans.
Another option is to use the Medicare Savings Program, where your state can help you pay some of your Medicare costs, such as deductibles or coinsurance. According to the Medicare website, there are four different programs with their own qualifications, but you usually have to show that you have low income or a lack of resources.
You may also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to help ease your financial burden. SSI benefits are available if you have a limited income and are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled.
Medicare Enrollment Periods — Medicare Mindset, Llc
One option that can help especially with drug prices is the Medicare Supplemental Assistance Program. This program can pay for your prescription drugs, and you must be eligible for it if you qualify for Medicaid, Medicare Savings, or SSI benefits.
Most people don’t pay a premium on Medicare Part A. But if you’ve worked for less than 10 years, you can still buy Medicare Part A.
If you’ve worked and paid into Medicare for less than 30 quarters — seven and a half years — the monthly premium in 2024 is $505. If you work 30-39 quarters, the Part A premium is $278 per month. If you buy Part A, you must also buy Part B. The monthly premium for 2024 is $174.70.
You can get Medicare at age 65, regardless of your work history, if you are a US citizen or legal resident. Your work history is important if you want to register for free Part A and optional Part B. Even without paying into Social Security, you can still sign up for Medicare. However, the cost of coverage may vary.
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We/our partners do not offer all plans available in your area. All information provided is limited to the plans available in your area. For information about all your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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I’m 65 And Working. Should I Enroll In Medicare?
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