Generally, you have Medicare eligibility if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren’t yet 65, and you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant), you might also qualify for coverage.

Here are some simple guidelines for Medicare eligibility. You can get Medicare Part A benefits at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

• You are already getting retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You have eligibility to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but you have not filed for them yet.
• You or your spouse were in government employment that had Medicare coverage

If you are under 65, and if you meet one of the following, your Medicare eligibility allows you to get Medicare Part A without having to pay premiums:

• You received Social Security or you enjoyed Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for a period of 24 months
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain other requirements.

If you meet the above conditions and are eligible for Medicare, you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A.

However, you must pay for Part B premium if you want it. Most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 Part B premium amount in 2010. If you currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold your Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium for 2010. For all others, the Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $110.50. This premium will be deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare will send you a bill for your Part B premium once every three months.

Those who are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, will be eligible for Medicare when they turn 65

Medicare Enrollment
Medicare benefits have two parts:

• Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), which helps pay for care in a hospital and skilled nursing facility, home health care, and hospice care; and
• Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), which helps pay for doctors, outpatient hospital care, and other medical services.

Most people don’t have to pay for Medicare Part A. Most people pay for Medicare Part B.

General Medicare Enrollment Period
If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you first became eligible, you may still be able to sign up during the General Enrollment Period, which is from January 1 through March 31 of each year. During this time, you can enroll for Medicare Part B at your local Social Security office. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), contact your local RRB office. Your Medicare Part B coverage will start from July 1 of the year you sign up.

Except in special cases, the cost of Medicare Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t enroll for it. This penalty will be levied as long as you have Medicare Part B.

If you already have Medicare Part A and need Part B you can enroll for Part B at your local Social Security office.

Related Articles:

• All about Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D plans
• Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance Plans
• All about Medicare Health Insurance Plans
• All about Humana Health Insurance and Medicare Advantage
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• Group Health Insurance Plan
• All about Medical Insurance Plans
• All about Health Insurance for Individuals