Who Is Eligible For Hospital Insurance (Part A)?

Most people get Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) when they turn 65.

• You qualify for it automatically if you're eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

• You may qualify on a spouse's (including divorced spouse's) record or because you are a government employee, not covered by Social Security, who paid the Medicare part of the Social Security tax.

• If you've been getting Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, you automatically qualify for hospital insurance even if you are under age 65.

• People who have permanent kidney failure that requires maintenance dialysis or a kidney replacement qualify for hospital insurance if they are insured or if they are the spouse or child of an insured worker.

Almost everybody qualifies for Medicare hospital insurance through one of the above methods. But if you don't and if you're 65 or older, you can buy hospital insurance just like you can buy other health insurance policies. Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) helps pay for:

• inpatient hospital care;
• skilled nursing facility care;
• home health care; and
• hospice care.

If you are not getting Social Security benefits but you currently qualify for hospital insurance or you are close to your 65th birthday, please contact us to find out if you need to sign up for Medicare hospital insurance.