Medicare, signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, is a federally administered health care program for disabled and elderly Americans. Overseen by the regulatory agency, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare provides over 40 million Americans with health care.
Age
The primary way people qualify for Medicare is through age. The age requirement for those who are not eligible due to disability or illness is 65 years. How they enroll depends on whether they are going to receive railroad retirement or Social Security retirement benefits. Those who are receiving Social Security and railroad retirement will automatically be enrolled into Medicare. Otherwise, the beneficiary will have to actively enroll into Medicare.
Disability
Disabled Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are eligible for Medicare after their 24th month in the program. They do not need to be 65 years old to qualify. Like those aging into Medicare who are receiving Social Security benefits, those with disabilities will not have to actively enrolled but instead will receive a package in the mail three months before they are eligible that will explain the Medicare benefit.
End-Stage Renal Disease
Individuals diagnosed with end-stage renal disease who are receiving dialysis or have had a kidney transplant, in addition to being eligible for Social Security Disability or railroad retirement benefits, or have met a certain work requirement by Social Security, are qualified to receive Medicaid benefits. Like those with disabilities, they do not need to be 65 years old.
If receiving dialysis, the beneficiary is Medicare-eligible three months into the dialysis treatment, unless he begins a self-dialysis training program. Once he starts the program, Medicare begins the same month as the self-dialysis program. Those receiving transplants have Medicare coverage beginning the month they go into a hospital, as early as three months before the transplant if services are required.
End-stage renal disease enrollees usually need to actively apply for Medicare benefits by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Medicare benefits will begin the first month of SSDI enrollment or the first month of a railroad disability check if the individual was a railroad worker. Enrollment in Medicare is automatic. Finally, those diagnosed with ALS do not need to be 65 years old to qualify for Medicare.
Citizenship
Medicare recipients must be legal citizens of the United States. In order to be eligible for premium-free Part A, beneficiaries or their spouses (not domestic partners) must have worked for 10 or more years. Otherwise, they may have to pay a monthly premium.
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