Medicare is the government-sponsored health insurance program for people 65 and over and those with certain disabilities. In order to be eligible for Part A, or the program’s hospital coverage, you must meet certain criteria.

If you’re 65 or older, one of the following must apply:

• You or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters.
• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the country for at least five years.
• You receive or are eligible to receive Social Security or railroad retirement benefits.
• Your spouse (living or deceased, including divorced spouses) receives or is eligible to receive Social Security or railroad retirement benefits.
• You or your spouse are a government employee or retiree who has paid Medicare payroll taxes while employed.
• You are the dependent parent of a fully insured deceased child.

If you’re younger than 65, one of the following must apply:

• You have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 consecutive months.
• You receive a disability pension from the Railroad Retirement Board and meet certain conditions.
• You have Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which qualifies you immediately.
• You have permanent kidney failure that requires regular dialysis or a kidney transplant and one of the following applies:
  • You’re eligible for or receive monthly benefits under Social Security or the railroad retirement system.
  • You’ve worked long enough in a Medicare-covered government job.
• You’re the child or spouse (including a divorced spouse) of a worker (living or deceased) who has worked long enough under Social Security or in a Medicare-covered government job.
• You’re the child or widow(er) age 50 or older of a worker who has been employed long enough under Social Security or in a Medicare-covered government job, and you meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program.

If you don’t meet any of those requirements, you may be able to pay a monthly premium for coverage. Typically, you can only purchase this coverage during designated enrollment periods. The amount you pay depends on how long you or your spouse have worked and paid Medicare taxes. Every three months of work counts as one “work credit,” and Medicare will be free if you’ve accrued 40 credits.

Qualifying for Medicare Part A

To get Medicare Part A in 2024, you will pay a monthly premium of either $505 (if you’ve accrued fewer than 30 credits) or $278 (if you’ve accrued 30 to 39 credits), unless you have 40 credits.¹  

If you buy Part A, you must enroll in Part B.² That said, you can get Part B without enrolling in Part A. You would simply pay the same premium amount as anyone else enrolling. In 2024, that’s $174.70 a month for individuals who earn $103,000 or less a year, or couples filing jointly who earn $206,000 or less a year. The rates increase for those with higher incomes.

You can also get Part D if you’re enrolled in either Part A or Part B. The monthly premium varies by plan.

Now that you know who is eligible, let's dive into our next lesson: The Basics of Medicare Enrollment.

SOURCES

1. “Part A (Hospital Insurance) costs.” Medicare, www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs. Accessed 7 December 2023.
2. “Part B (Medical Insurance) costs.” Medicare, www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs. Accessed 7 December 2023.