Medicare Blog

collect medicare when spouse does not work

by Horacio Stroman I Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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  • You can sometimes qualify for Medicare if you have never worked, based on your spouse’s work history
  • You cannot qualify for your spouse’s benefits if you developed a disability before the age of 65
  • You can qualify under certain circumstances even if you are divorced or your spouse has passed away

More items...

A non-working spouse can receive premium-free Medicare part A as long as the other partner is at least 62 years old and has satisfied Medicare's work requirements. For example, John is 65 years old and has never worked or paid Medicare taxes.Jan 20, 2022

Full Answer

Can I claim Medicare benefits if my spouse hasn’t worked?

Most Medicare beneficiaries have worked and paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years to qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A as well as Part B coverage. If you have not worked for 10 years but your spouse has, you are allowed to claim benefits on their record.

When does a non-working spouse get Medicare Part A and B?

If the working spouse is younger than 62, the non-working spouse will not be able to claim on the record. In this case, when they are 65, and assuming they have lived in the US for 5 consecutive years, they can purchase Part A and Part B and pay full premiums until the working spouse turns 62.

Can my spouse get Medicare Part A without paying a premium?

They will have to pay a premium for their Part A coverage. Once you turn 62 (and if you paid at least 10 years of Medicare taxes), your spouse will then be able to receive premium-free Part A. *You must be married for at least one year before an older spouse can be eligible for Medicare based on your work record.

Does Medicare cover my spouse if I turn 62?

Once you turn 62 (and if you paid at least 10 years of Medicare taxes), your spouse will then be able to receive premium-free Part A. *You must be married for at least one year before an older spouse can be eligible for Medicare based on your work record. Do other parts of Medicare cover spouses?

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Can you get Medicare if you were a housewife?

Anyone who meets Medicare eligibility requirements can get Medicare, including spouses.

When can a spouse claim Medicare?

age 65When you turn age 62 and your spouse is age 65, your spouse can usually receive premium-free Medicare benefits. Until you're age 62, your spouse can receive Medicare Part A, but will have to pay the premiums if they don't meet the 40 quarters of work requirement.

Can someone who has never worked get Medicare?

You can still get Medicare if you never worked, but it will likely be more expensive. Unless you worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10 years — also measured as 40 quarters — you will have to pay a monthly premium for Part A. This may differ depending on your spouse or if you spent some time in the workforce.

Can my wife get Medicare at 60?

Traditional Medicare includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). To qualify for Medicare, your spouse must be age 65 or older. If your spouse is age 62 (or any age under 65), he or she could only qualify for Medicare by disability.

Can my wife get Medicare if she never worked?

Can I Get Medicare If I've Never Worked? If you've never worked, you may still qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A. This is based on your spouse's work history or if you have certain medical conditions or disabilities. It's also possible to get Medicare coverage if you pay a monthly Part A premium.

How much does a non working spouse get in Social Security?

The maximum Social Security benefit of a nonworking spouse is up to 50 percent of the working spouse's benefit at FRA. So if, for example, your FRA benefit is $2,000/month, your spouse would be able to collect up to $1,000 at his FRA.

How does Medicare work for married couples?

There are no family plans or special rates for couples in Medicare. You will each pay the same premium amount that individuals pay. Here's what to know about costs: Medicare Part A, hospital coverage, has no monthly cost for most people who worked or have a spouse who worked and is eligible for Social Security.

How do you pay for Medicare Part B if you are not collecting Social Security?

If you have Medicare Part B but you are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits yet, you will get a bill called a “Notice of Medicare Premium Payment Due” (CMS-500). You will need to make arrangements to pay this bill every month.

Can I put my partner on my Medicare card?

On your homepage, select My card. You'll see your current Medicare card. Select Add someone to my card. You'll see information about how we can help people with family and domestic violence concerns.

Can I get Obama care if my husband in on Medicare?

No. Although your husband now qualifies for Medicare, you will not qualify for Medicare until you turn 65. If you do not have health insurance now, you can consider signing up for health insurance coverage through a Marketplace plan.

What is the spousal benefit?

Spousal benefits are Social Security benefits that are based on your spouse's work record instead of your own. In some circumstances, you're eligible for spousal benefits even if you've divorced. Your Social Security retirement benefit is typically based on your 35 highest-earning years of work.

Why is there no Medicare premium?

There’s no premium for it because your Medicare tax dollars go into the hospital insurance trust fund, which then finances Medicare Part A benefits for eligible individuals.

How old do you have to be to get Medicare Part A?

You must be at least 62 years old and eligible for Social Security benefits before your spouse can enroll, because his or her qualification is based on your work record.

What is Medicare Made Clear?

Medicare Made Clear is brought to you by UnitedHealthcare to help make understanding Medicare easier. Click here to take advantage of more helpful tools and resources from Medicare Made Clear including downloadable worksheets and guides.

What happens if you have both health insurance and one turns 65?

If you both are covered by your employer health insurance, and one of you turns 65, you’ll have decisions to make about Medicare. In this case, it will depend on the employer and their rules around covered dependents of Medicare age.

Can my spouse get cobra insurance?

Your employer may offer COBRA coverage for your spouse if you retire. Your spouse may choose to buy individual health insurance until he or she turns 65.

Can a spouse and spouse have Medicare?

The answer is no. Medicare is individual insurance, so spouses cannot be on the same Medicare plan together. Now, if your spouse is eligible for Medicare, then he or she can get their own Medicare plan. But, what’s interesting is that there are some things to think about in regards to your non-working spouse and Medicare.

Does a Non-Working Spouse Qualify for Medicare?

Regardless of your work status or that of your spouse, you may qualify for Medicare if you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident for at least five years and are 65 years old (or are younger but have a qualifying disability ).

Can You Get Medicare If You Have Never Worked?

As outlined above, you may still get Medicare even if you have never worked a day in your life. You may even potentially qualify for premium-free Part A, provided that your spouse has paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters and meets all other Medicare eligibility requirements. Those 40 quarters do not need to be consecutive.

How Does a Spouse Sign Up for Medicare?

Anyone who is eligible for Medicare but isn’t receiving Social Security retirement benefits at least four months before they turn 65 may need to sign up for Medicare manually by visiting their local Social Security office or by calling the Social Security Administration at 800-325-0778 to confirm their eligibility.

What If the Working Spouse Is Not Yet 65 Years Old?

A non-working spouse can receive premium-free Medicare part A as long as the other partner is at least 62 years old and has satisfied Medicare’s work requirements.

Where Can I Get More Information About My Medicare eligibility?

If you have lingering questions about the Medicare eligibility of yourself or your spouse, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a Medicare representative.

How long do you have to work to qualify for Medicare?

In the United States, as soon as you turn 65 you are eligible for Medicare benefits if you are citizen or have been a legal resident for five years or more and have worked for at least 40 quarters (10 years) paying federal taxes.

How old do you have to be to get Medicare?

In a case such as this, you must be at least 62 years old.

Can you get Medicare at different ages?

If you and your spouse are different ages, you will likely become eligible at different times. Primary Medicare recipients and their non-insured spouses are entitled to the same benefits under Medicare if both have reached the age of 65.

Do you have to enroll in Medicare Part B or D?

If you wish to sign up for Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and/or Part D (prescription drug insurance), you must enroll separately during your initial enrollment period, Open Enrollment or during Special Enrollment Period to avoid paying late enrollment penalties.

How long do you have to be married to get Medicare?

If you are currently married and your spouse qualifies for social security benefits and Medicare Part A premiums, you can apply as long as you have been married for at least a year prior to submitting the application. If you are divorced, you may be eligible if your former spouse is, as long as you were married for at least ten years.

How old do you have to be to get Medicare Part A?

In order to get these benefits, you must be at least 65 years of age and a United States citizen or a legal resident in the United States for a minimum of five years.

How long do you have to be married to qualify for a divorce?

If you are divorced, you may be eligible if your former spouse is, as long as you were married for at least ten years. You must also be currently single. You can also qualify if your spouse has passed away. You must have been married for at least nine months before the death of your spouse and you must be single.

How much is the 2020 Medicare premium?

If you have more than 30 credits, but less than 40 credits, you will be able to pay a slightly smaller amount at around $252.00 ( per 2020 costs ). You also have the option to continue working after you reach the age of 65 until you have earned the necessary 40 credits, in which case you will qualify for the free premium ...

How long do you have to work to qualify for Medicare?

First, it is important to know how eligibility for Medicare works. Most Medicare beneficiaries have worked and paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years to qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A as well as Part B coverage. If you have not worked for 10 years but your spouse has, you are allowed to claim benefits on their record. Medicare benefits cannot start earlier than when you turn 65, unless you are disabled, have ALS, or have end-stage renal disease. Medicare will only cover you, not your spouse or children if they are not eligible on their own.

How long does a spouse have to be on Cobra?

If a company has more than 20 employees, it is required to offer COBRA benefits. COBRA allows coverage for 18 months, sometimes longer, so if the working spouse can wait to retire until 18 months before the younger spouses 65th birthday, this would work out nicely.

Can a non-working spouse get Social Security?

If the non-working spouse is older than the working spouse, the non-working spouse can qualify on on the working spouses work record if they are at least 62, since that is when qualification for Social Security begins. In this case, if the working spouse is still working, the non-working spouse should stay on the work health insurance ...

Can a spouse get health insurance after 65?

The other option would be for the younger spouse to find a job that offers health insurance until they turn 65. While this is a long-shot, some companies will provide coverage for the younger spouse even after the working spouse retires.

Can a non-working spouse claim Medicare?

If the working spouse is no longer employed, the non-working spouse should go ahead and apply for coverage fully from Medicare. If the working spouse is younger than 62, the non-working spouse will not be able to claim on the record.

Does Medicare cover spouse?

Medicare will only cover you, not your spouse or children if they are not eligible on their own. This is where problems begin, especially when a working spouse is older than a non-working spouse. Say the working spouse turns 65, retires, and claims Medicare. The other spouse is only 61.

Can a spouse with a low income get medicaid?

Medicaid is a joint Federal and State program designed to help people with low incomes cover healthcare costs. If, by retiring, your income falls under a certain level, the younger spouse may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. Be aware, as a family, you have to have a very low income and very little assets, so many people will not qualify.

How old do you have to be to qualify for Medicare?

Qualifying for Medicare is different than Social Security benefits. You can be eligible for your spouse/ex-spouse Social Security benefits at age 62, and you won’t qualify for Medicare until age 65. Of course, you may be eligible for Medicare sooner if you have End-Stage Renal Disease or disability for at least two years.

Can my ex spouse get medicare?

Spouse & Ex-Spouse Eligibility for Medicare. There’s no family plan for Medicare; plans are individual. Meaning, your spouse’s eligibility may not match yours. For those currently married: Your spouse must be at least 65 years old, and you need to be married for at least a year.

Can you lose Medicare if your spouse dies?

If you lose Medicare coverage due to the death of a spouse, you become eligible for a Special Election Period; but, that period doesn’t last forever.

How to enroll in Social Security by phone?

Enroll By Phone. Contact Social Security to schedule a phone appointment for this enrollment. You can call the main line at 800-772-1213 or a local Social Security office to schedule ( Social Security office locator ). We recommend initiating the request 3-4 months prior to your planned start date.

What happens if you don't have 40 quarters of work?

If you don’t have at least 40 quarters (about 10 years of work) paid into the Medicare system, you aren’t eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A. That means Part A is very expensive when you have limited or no work history.

What happens if your spouse receives more than your spousal benefit?

If the spousal benefit is higher, he or she receives an additional amount to equal the spouse benefit amount. If your spouse does not qualify for an individual benefit, he or she may receive the spouse benefit amount of 50 percent of your benefits, if they are at full retirement age.

What is the spousal benefit for a person who has not reached retirement age?

If you decide to opt for the spousal benefit but have not yet reached full retirement age yourself, that benefit will be less than 50 percent. This may still be a good option if you have not been working much through the years.

When does my spouse get my spousal benefits?

If your spouse is caring for your child who is younger than 16, your spouse may receive the full amount of spousal benefit at any age, and until the child turns 16. If your spouse receives a spouse’s benefit based on your work record, your retirement benefits are not reduced, you receive the full amount of your benefit.

When does a widow receive Social Security?

A widow or widower who has reached full retirement age, and whose spouse did not receive Social Security benefits until 70 years old, receives the full benefit amount of the deceased spouse.

Does Social Security pay your spouse first?

Social Security pays your benefits first, but if the benefits you would receive through your spouse are higher than yours, you can receive a combination of these benefits to reach the amount you would receive as a spouse.

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