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If you get Social Security, Medicare Part A coverage is automatic. It is free, so make sure your personal information is updated. This does not mean Medicare will pay for all of your costs automatically. Many times people still have to pay deductibles and other costs incurred when they are admitted to a hospital. Make sure you understand your benefit periods. This means from the time you enter the hospital and then up to a point where you stop receiving care, about two months after you leave. If you do not receive Social Security, then a good rule of thumb is to sign up about three months before you expect to receive coverage.
There are some circumstances, aside from being over 65 years old, in which you will automatically qualify for Medicare. These circumstances include if you are married to someone who is eligible for Social Security, if you are disabled and have already been collecting Social Security and receiving dialysis, or you have received a kidney transplant.

Hospital Insurance (also referred to as the "in-patient" portion), for some may not be free and you might have to buy into Medicare. This would only happen if you never paid Social Security tax or did not pay into the system long enough.




Part B is optional medical insurance, which is added automatically, so if you do not want to receive this portion of service, you will have to contact someone and cancel it. It costs very little so you might want to leave well enough alone. Again, if you are 65 years or older, and have paid your Medicare taxes, you are immediately eligible.

13 years ago. Rating: 1
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