Medicare Coverage for Non-Working Spouses

1. Medicare Coverage for Non-Working Spouses Medicare isn’t just for people who retire after many years of working. In fact anyone can get Medicare, as long as he or she is a U.S. citizen or a legal resident for at least five years and meets one or more of these eligibility requirements: Age 65 or older Under age 65 with a qualifying disability Have End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant) If Your Non-Working Spouse is Younger You should enroll in Medicare at age 65, whether or not you are still working. Additional decisions such as whether to enroll in just Part A or in both Part A and Part B will depend on your specific situation. Until your spouse turns 65 and becomes eligible for Medicare, he or she will need other health insurance. This may be through your employer if you continue working. 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 for Medicare on their own. A non-working spouse’s eligibility to receive Medicare depends largely on the age of both that person and their partner. If you turn 65 and are eligible for premium-free Part A of Medicare, your spouse will be eligible for premium-free Part A, as well as Medicare Part B (medical insurance), regardless of their age or how much they have worked. If you and your spouse are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B, then you are likely eligible for a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan. Source: blog.medicaremadeclear.com