Medicare and Spousal Insurance
Can I Get Medicare through My Spouse If They Have Insurance?
When it comes to how Medicare and marriage are connected, there are several aspects you should note. First, Medicare is an individual plan, meaning that there’s no such thing as a family plan you can choose.
Still, this doesn’t exclude the likelihood of taking advantage of Medicare insurance through your spouse’s work history, even though you haven’t worked enough to qualify for it. At the same time, each person is required to enroll on Medicare separately.
Still, according to a study, many Americans were wrong regarding their spouse’s eligibility for coverage. The statement that got the highest number of wrong answers was: if I am not eligible for Medicare, yet my spouse is, I can nonetheless enjoy the benefits provided by the insurance plan. Most people answered incorrectly, saying that the statement is false, whereas it is actually true.
What You Should Know on the Topic
This points out one thing: most people are unaware of this possibility. It’s as simple as this, Medicare insurance is provided if payments have been made into the Social Security system. Similar to Social Security benefits, you still have the possibility of qualifying for Medicare coverage through your spouse.
This applies even if you get a divorce, granted that you address other specified requirements. For instance, let’s say that you are 63 years old and you want to get Medicare insurance through your spouse. In this case, you will have to wait for two more years.
On the other hand, if your spouse is younger, then they must wait until they’re at least 62 years old. This is the official age at which they can benefit from Social Security retirement perks.
What Is Not Covered by Your Spouse’s Medicare Insurance?
If you want to benefit from your spouse’s Medicare insurance, there are still some expenses that may not be covered by the plan. So, irrespective of your eligibility criteria for the premium-free part A, if you want to benefit from your Medicare Part B, you will be required to pay a monthly fee.
As for your Part B premium, it will be assessed depending on your income. Still, last year, the average premium for most people was somewhere around $134.
Social Security will automatically deduct the premium from your Social Security check on a monthly basis. Meanwhile, in case you don’t get Social Security, then you will most likely get a quarterly bill for the premium.
There are also plans that give you a specific discount on monthly premiums, through spousal discounts – and these apply although the two of you have separate Medicare numbers.
By the end of this article, you might feel a tad overwhelmed, but you are not the only one that feels this way. Make sure you get all your facts straight before you make any decision. If anything, you can always contact a BGA Insurance agent to help you decide – it’s a free service!
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