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Can I qualify for premium-free Part A?

Can I qualify for premium-free Part A?

Medicare Part A, along with Medicare Part B, make up Original Medicare. Part A covers inpatient care, which includes skilled nursing facility care, hospital care, and home care in some cases. Before a treatment can be covered by Medicare Part B, it must be considered medically necessary, which means a physician must agree that you need the treatment to treat or prevent a condition or illness.

Most Medicare beneficiaries qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A, while other individuals may have to purchase Medicare Part A and pay the premium. This article looks at how an individual can qualify for premium-free Part A.

Premium-free Part A

For you to qualify for a premium-free Part A, you must meet certain conditions, which include the following:

  • You must have worked for a certain amount of quarters (years) and also be over 65. The income of your spouse may also count towards qualifying for premium-free Part A.
  • The calendar quarters you worked must be earned through Medicare payroll taxes. Under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), employers are required to deduct payroll taxes from each of their employee paychecks.
  • If you or your spouse has worked for ten years or more, you will generally have paid the complete Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax through payroll deduction and meet the conditions to get premium-free Part A.

Other qualifying conditions for premium-free Part A

You may also qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if you are over 65 and meet the following conditions:

  • Have government employment that is covered by Medicare.
  • Get retirement benefits through Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).
  • Is eligible for Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or Social Security benefits but haven’t claimed the benefits.

Those that are under 65 can also qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if they meet the following criteria:

  • You are disabled and have been receiving Social Security benefits or RRB benefits for 24 months.
  • You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and receive dialysis. Your coverage usually starts the first day of your 4th month of receiving dialysis. But if you use in-house dialysis treatment, your coverage can start in your first month of dialysis.
  • You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and are eligible for SSDI. Coverage starts as soon as your SSDI starts.
  • You or your spouse worked and paid taxes for at least ten years. 

Want to learn more about qualifying for premium-free Part A? Contact Cornerstone Senior Advisors to speak with an experienced Medicare agent.