It's common for married people to choose health care insurance plans through their spouse. When one spouse is Medicare-eligible or approaching Medicare eligibility, the question of whether the other can apply for Medicare through them often comes up.
In this video, Apply for Medicare Expert Stacy Crayder is here to answer the question "How can I apply for Medicare through my spouse?"
During your working years, you may have taken health insurance through your spouse's employer – or vice-versa. However, Medicare does not work this way, as individuals qualify for the program separately.
Therefore, it doesn't matter if your spouse or domestic partner is already on Medicare. If you aren't yet eligible, you'll need to wait until you are to receive coverage through Medicare.
So, in short, the answer to the question is, unfortunately, "You can't." Being married to someone who is on Medicare – or who is Medicare-eligible – will not qualify you for Medicare. You must become Medicare-eligible on your own before you're able to sign up.
Additionally, other non-eligible family members cannot receive Medicare once you receive it yourself. In this way, Medicare is not like the health insurance plans for which you sign up through an employer.
A person is ONLY eligible for Medicare if any of the following apply to them:
1) They have reached the age of 65
2) They have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI) for at least 24 months
3) They have a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
On the other hand, your marital status can affect your Medicare when it comes to the number of working quarter taxes you need to pay to receive premium-free Medicare Part A coverage. Unmarried beneficiaries need to have paid Medicare taxes for 40 quarters (ten years) on their own. Yet, if you're married, you'll receive premium-free Part A if at least one spouse has paid these taxes for a minimum of ten years.
If both you and your spouse are already Medicare beneficiaries but are struggling with health care costs, you can apply for a Medicare Savings Program. These programs consider the dollar amounts of combined monthly income for married couples, as well as the dollar amounts for their combined resources.
By looking at your combined monthly income and resources, you could see if you qualify for Extra Help to pay for Part D. Keep in mind that even if a couple's resources exceed the limit, they may still qualify if they support a family member living in the same home.
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