Medicare Blog

medicare for non working spouse what documents you need

by Laverne Ritchie Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Form CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information) — This is only required when enrolling in Medicare Part B after your Initial Enrollment Period has ended and you’re leaving an employer health insurance plan, based on your active employment or your spouse’s. This form can be accessed HERE.

Full Answer

Can a non-working spouse get Medicare Part A?

Your non-working spouse is eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A coverage at the age of 65 based on your work record and if you meet the necessary requirements for Medicare coverage mentioned above. Medicare automatically enrolls you (and a dependent, non-working spouse) in Original Medicare.

Can I enroll in Medicare Part A under my spouse's work history?

However, you can enroll in premium-free Part A under your spouse’s work history if he or she has the necessary 40 quarters of Medicare earnings required, is at least age 62, and you have been married at least 1 year. NOTE: Your spouse does NOT have to be receiving Social Security retirement benefits for this to work.

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

*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? Can a non-working spouse also become eligible for other types of Medicare coverage?

Can my spouse get Medicare Part A If I have Medicare?

If you are not yet 62, your spouse may still enroll in Medicare Part A (and Part B, which is optional). 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.

Is my wife eligible for Medicare if she did not work?

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.

Can you get Medicare if you were a housewife?

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

How do I apply for spousal Medicare benefits?

Form SSA-2 | Information You Need to Apply for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits. You can apply: Online, if you are within 3 months of age 62 or older, or. By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office.

Can I enroll in Medicare under my spouse?

To qualify for Medicare, you need to have paid into the Social Security system. Just like with Social Security benefits, you can qualify for Medicare coverage under your spouse's record.

How do I add my wife to 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.

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.

Can my spouse get Medicare if I am 65?

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.

When can I apply for spousal benefits?

You can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but you won't receive as much as if you wait until your own full retirement age. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you choose to claim spousal benefits at 62, you'd receive a benefit that's equal to 32.5% of your spouse's full benefit amount.

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.

What happens to my spouse when I go on Medicare?

Your spouse can switch to health insurance from his or her employer until reaching Medicare age or beyond. Your spouse can qualify for a special enrollment period to switch to this coverage within 30 days of losing coverage under your plan or can enroll during the company's annual open enrollment period.

Can a stay at home mom get Medicare?

For example, stay-at-home-moms are eligible for Medicare even if they haven't worked and paid Medicare taxes. As long as their husbands have, they may enroll during their Initial Enrollment Period.

Can you be denied Medicare?

In all but four states, insurance companies can deny private Medigap insurance policies to seniors after their initial enrollment in Medicare because of a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, except under limited, qualifying circumstances, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis finds.

How long does a non-working spouse have to pay Medicare?

All of the following scenarios assume the non-working spouse has not paid Medicare taxes for 40 quarters (ten years) in their lifetime.

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

*You must be married for at least one year before an older spouse can be eligible for Medicare based on your work record.

What are the benefits of Medicare Advantage?

Some Medicare Advantage plans may also offer additional benefits such as prescription drug coverage and coverage for dental, vision and hearing care. To learn more about Medicare Advantage plans for you and your spouse, call to speak with a licensed insurance agent today.

Can a non-working spouse be covered by Medicare?

It isn’ t uncommon for a non-working person to be covered under their spouse’s health insurance plan. And Medicare coverage is no different in that regard. While there are of course some exceptions and special circumstances that apply, Medicare can and does provide coverage for the spouse of a beneficiary, even if that person does not qualify ...

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.

Medicare Eligibility Rules

Medicare, the government’s health insurance program for older adults, covers more than 55 million Americans age 65 and older, as well as youth with a qualifying disability or with end-stage renal disease.

Medicare If You Have a Non-Working Older Spouse

If you have a spouse older than you, they may qualify for Medicare on your work record at the age of 65, even if you are not getting Medicare yourself, but you should be at least 62 years old. You must also have been married for at least one year for your spouse to claim Medicare on your work record.

Medicare If You Have a Non-Working Younger Spouse

Unless you and your spouse have the same birth year and month, one of you would be eligible for Medicare earlier than the other.

Medicare Advantage Plans for a Non-Working Spouse

If you and your spouse are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B, you are likely to qualify for a Medicare Advantage plan.

Where do Social Security and Medicare taxes come from?

The taxes you pay while working that eventually qualify you for premium-free Medicare Part A come from the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). This tax law takes a percentage from paychecks and income, putting these subtractions toward ...

Does Medicare cover spouse?

Your Medicare coverage doesn’t cover your spouse. Medicare beneficiaries who need health-care coverage need to receive their own Medicare insurance. However, this is a little different when it comes to eligibility and enrollment for premium-free Medicare Part A. Most people who are eligible for Medicare don’t pay a monthly premium ...

Can my spouse still enroll in Medicare at 65?

Your spouse can still enroll in Part A at age 65 and pay a premium for it, which will vary depending on long he or she worked and paid Medicare taxes. (Remember, you may owe a late-enrollment penalty for Part A if you must pay a premium for it and don’t sign up when you’re first eligible.)

How long can my spouse be on Medicare?

If your spouse is more than three years older than you, he/she can buy Medicare Part A until you turn 62 and the premium-free benefits begin. To avoid penalties, aim to enroll in Medicare Part D (prescription drug plan) during your individual initial enrollment period.

What should I do if my spouse turns 65?

When you turn 65, you should enroll in Medicare, whether or not you are still working. If your spouse turns 65 after you, he/she will need other health insurance in the meantime, whether it’s through your employer or through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

How to contact Medicare in Jacksonville Florida?

Contact us for more information and to get a quote today! To work with our agents, click our Jacksonville Medicare insurance contact page or call 904-730-3900 .

How old do you have to be to get Medicare?

citizen or a legal resident for at least five years and meet eligibility requirements, then you can get Medicare. Eligibility requirements are: You must be 65 years old or older. You are under 65 years old with a qualifying disability. You have End-Stage Renal Disease, which is permanent kidney failure ...

Can a non-working spouse get Medicare?

In short, your non-working spouse can get Medicare if he or she is eligible. However, we want to go into this in more detail. As a working person, you pay Medicare taxes through payroll deductions. If you work and pay taxes for at least 10 years, you qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A coverage, which is hospital insurance, ...

Non-Working Spouse Get Premium-Free Medicare Part A

If you served and paid taxes through payroll deductions for a minimum of 10 years, then you and your spouse will enjoy premium-free Medicare Part A when you reach 65 years old.

What Happens If One Of You Meets The Requirements Of Medicare Before The Other?

If you and your life-partner were not born in the same month of the same birth year, one of you would be eligible before the other for Medicare. If Employer Health Insurance covers you and your spouse, and one of you turns 65, you will have to decide about Medicare.

When Your Non-Working Spouse Is Younger

You will have to determine whether you choose to work further than the age of 65 if you become eligible.

When Your Non-Working Spouse Is Older

If employer health insurance covers your older spouse, they may prefer to enrol only in premium-free Medicare Part A until you decide not to work or employer coverage ends. You can add Part B with its premium later without any extra charges during a Special Enrollment Period as long as your employer gives creditable coverage.

End Note

Now, you know how to share your information with authority regarding Medicare with your spouse. You need to figure out which alternatives will give optimum benefits around Medicare eligibility to your non-working spouse’s health insurance.

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.

Enrolling in Medicare at 65

If you want to enroll when you are turning 65, you can enroll in Medicare Parts A & B, Part D prescription drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. You can also look at adding a Medicare supplement insurance plan to Original Medicare (Parts A & B) to help with the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare.

Enrolling in Medicare Part A at 65

Many people who are covered by a spouse’s employer plan choose to either wait to enroll until they lose their spouse’s employer coverage or choose to only enroll in Part A since Part A usually has no premium.

Delaying Medicare Enrollment

Just because you are turning 65, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get Medicare right now. If you decide that waiting to enroll in Medicare is the best option both financially and in terms of healthcare coverage for you, just follow Medicare’s rules, and you’ll avoid enrollment penalties when you do enroll.

When Would I Enroll If I Delay or Only Take Part A?

If you are able to delay enrolling in either all or part of Medicare, you will have a Special Enrollment Period of eight months that begins when the employer coverage is lost or when your spouse retires. During this time, you’ll be able to enroll in Medicare Parts A & B. You can also enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan.

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