Getting Medicare Part A from your Younger Spouse

Recently, I encountered a situation I don’t typically. I worked with a retiree who originally could not qualify for Medicare Part A because he does not have enough working credits. He had the denial letter from Social Security dating back to over 10 years ago. Yet, he now qualifies for Medicare. What gives?

Typically, people qualify for Medicare Part A when they have been working in the US for 10 years full time.

Another way you can qualify is when your younger spouse turns 62, as long as they have a qualifying work history - 10 years full time. To qualify for spousal benefits, you must be married at least a year. You can qualify through a previous spouse too, dead or alive, but that’s a story for another day.

Why is this important? The reiteee I worked with did not know this rule and Social Security wants to charge him late enrollment penalties (LEP) back to when he initially turned 65. He is 75, so his penalty would be 10% for each year he didn’t have it.

For 10 years (full 12-month periods), would be an additional 100% of the premium, making this retiree’s premium $349.40 per month, up from the standard Part B premium $174.70 (2024).

To recap, you might originally be eligible for premium free Part A at 65, but you could qualify due to your younger spouse that you’ve been married to for at least 1 year and they are 62. At this time you need to apply for Medicare because you are now eligible or you will be at risk for lifetime late enrollment penalties. Also, if you cannot qualify for state subisidies from California’s insurance market place, CoveredCalifornia, if you are eligible for premium-free Part A. All of these rules seem to push people to the same result - get on Medicare!

Hope this helps!