Medicare Eligibility Rules

In the modern world, wherein diseases and disorders are ever ready to take over our life, how can we ignore our health and wellness? Therefore, health insurance, is the need of the hour! It ensures our well-being and also helps us in the treatment of diseases and disorders covered under it. Health insurance is necessary for each and everyone of us. It is necessary for young children, teenagers, middle aged and most importantly for the elderly people. Medicare is one such health insurance, which was initiated by the Federal Government in the year 1965, with an aim to ensure health care for people aged 65 years and above that. Although, this health insurance plan is open for everyone, there are some rules, regulations and eligibility criteria to qualify for it. Some of the most important Medicare eligibility rules are explained below...

What are the Medicare Eligibility Requirements?

Each and every health care plan or program has some or the other rules, regulations and eligibility criteria. Medicare is not an exception to it! Therefore, people looking forward to apply for a Medicare health plan, need to be aware of the following rules and criteria. After reading the rules, they will be able to decide, whether or not, they are eligible for the health insurance plan.

#1
Medicare health care plan is meant for American citizens only. Therefore, the most important and the basic requirement to apply for Medicare health plan is that the person needs to be US citizen since the last five years. Non Americans who have been residents of the United States of America, for the past five years can also apply for this health care program.

#2
The second most important rule for the eligibility of Medicare is that the applicant or the spouse of the applicant must have worked for a Medicare covered organization for at least ten years in the entire career span.

#3
Although the Medicare health insurance program is meant for the health coverage of elderly people aged 65 and above, people below the age of 65 also can apply for this plan. However, there are some criteria to qualify for it. People below the age of 65 need to be disabled or must be undergoing surgical procedures or dialysis for any sort of last stage renal disease. Another criterion is about the receipt of either Railroad Retirement Benefits or Social Security payments. The applicants must be availing these facilities since at least two years prior to applying for Medicare.

#4
Plan A forms an important eligibility criteria for the eligibility of Medicare. People who are 65 or older than that and are already enjoying Railroad Retirement Benefits or Social Security payments automatically become eligible for Medicare. They need not even apply for Medicare, if they fulfill this criterion. Applicants, whose spouse are serving the Government under Medicare covered employment also are eligible for the Medicare health insurance plan.

#5
Eligibility for plan B also is a significant part of entire Medicare eligibility criteria. People who are 65 and older than that and are paying regular monthly premiums qualify for plan B.

#6
Many people think that, people who are 65 and older than that, need to be retired, to qualify for Medicare. However, this is a misconception! This is because, there are also people who are eligible for retirement at the age of 67. If the past or current spouse of such people has paid for Social Security for more than ten years, then they become qualified for the Medicare health insurance.

I suppose each and every elderly must apply for Medicare health insurance. Medicare eligibility rules are not very complicated. Anyone at and above the age of 65 and fitting in all the above said criteria can reap the benefits of Medicare.