(Newswire.net — December 10, 2018) — Medicare comprises of two sections: Medicare Part A that is essentially hospital insurance and Medicare Part B which is medical insurance. Medicare Part A covers inpatient care, a few home nursing services, hospice care, and skilled nursing care. But who qualifies for free medicare part A?
Eligibility Criteria for Medicare Part A
You qualify for free Medicare Part A if you are age 65 and are eligible for social security benefits. If that is not the case, you can qualify for Medicare Part A on account that you have a disability or a lifetime condition like ALS.
You Are Eligible for Free Medicare Part A if:
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You are age 65 or over, and you are a US citizen or have been on permanent legal stay for at least five years.
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You are as of now getting retirement benefits.
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You have physical challenged and getting disability benefits.
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You have an End-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Medicare Part A is free of premiums if you were making contributions to social security fund during your employment, or if you receive disability benefits. If you want to enroll in the Medicare Part A, but you don’t meet the eligibility criteria, then, in that case, you will have to pay a premium. Medicare Part A beneficiaries are supposed to enroll in the scheme three months before their 65th birthday. Late enrollment can attract penalties.
Automatic Enrollment
If you clock 65 years and are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, registration to Medicare Part An usually is automatic. You will start receiving Medicare Part A coverage on the first day of the first day after you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, your benefits will start a month before you turn 65.
If you have ALS, your Medicare Part A coverage benefits will consequently start that month that your Social Security disability benefits start. You will get your Medicare card within a month after you apply for disability benefits.
If you have the End-stage renal infection (ESRD) and require dialysis, your Medicare benefits will start on the after four months of your dialysis medications. But you will have to apply for Medicare Part A benefits if you have ERSD and are younger than 65.
Medicare Part A Is Not Optional
Medicare Part A is an obligatory scheme for which late enlistment attracts fines. Fundamentally, if you don’t qualify for retirement benefits, you are required to enlist in the program three months before your 65th birthday celebration. If you delay enlisting, you should sit tight for the following year’s enlistment period from January to March. You’ll be slapped with a 10 percent fine for every year that you miss coverage when you are supposed to be getting it at 65 and above. The longer you take to join, the more the fines accumulate.
Bottom Line
To qualify for free Medicare Part A, you must be a US citizen aged 65 and above. You must also be getting retirement benefits from social security or the railroad retirement board. Those with a disability, ALS and end-stage renal disease are eligible for free Medicare Part A regardless of their age. You will be required to pay a little premium to join Medicare Part A if you don’t meet any of these criteria.