Medicare for Immigrants

[Crazy Cat 41,980]

For lack of a better place, I am placing this topic in the General Immigration Forum:  The subject is Medicare for Legal Residents

 

Although the audience might be limited, I think this might be helpful to some others...at some point later.  I am 69 years old.  I receive Social Security Retirement Benefits, and I (as almost all retirees), receive Premium-Free Medicare Part A.  My lovely wife, who looks 25, will turn 65 years old in August.  As a result, it is time to set up her Medicare coverage (it's actually required to keep her Tricare coverage).  My research indicates that my wife will also qualify for Premium-Free Medicare Part A based on the following:

1.  She will be 65 years old soon (Medicare enrollment is open 3 months before until 3 months after her 65th birthday month).

2.  We have been married for 1 year or longer

3.  I, her spouse, am older than 62, and I already receive Social Security and Premium-Free Medicare Part A.

4.  She has been a legal resident for 5 years (next month).

 

She, like me and most other retirees, will have to pay for Medicare Part B.

 

This is pretty important (and a big, big relief to me) since people who do not qualify for Premium-Free Medicare can pay as much as $499.00 a month for Medicare Part A and an additional $170.00 a month for Medicare Part B.

Edited May 15, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[agrabs 241]

Great information!  Thank you for taking the time to share! 

[nelmagriffin 148]

Thank you for sharing, I actually wanted to message you about something regarding SS and Medicare, if it's okay to shoot a message, Thanks, NG

[rico4444 3]

Thank you for sharing Crazy Cat! Very helpful!

[Joyoussinger 1,425]

This is helpful, @Crazy Cat. Thank you! I, the USC, am 67 and am on both Social Security and Medicare. My husband, is 63 and I've begun to look into this. Your post helps!

[discoverusa 277]

Also, you can look into Medicare Savings program provided by Social Service in the state. Helps pay Part B premium and more. 

 

Q-1000, Medicare Savings Programs Overview | Texas Health and Human Services

 

 

[Sarge2155 4,589]

On 5/15/2022 at 9:39 AM, Crazy Cat said:

For lack of a better place, I am placing this topic in the General Immigration Forum:  The subject is Medicare for Legal Residents

 

Although the audience might be limited, I think this might be helpful to some others...at some point later.  I am 69 years old.  I receive Social Security Retirement Benefits, and I (as almost all retirees), receive Premium-Free Medicare Part A.  My lovely wife, who looks 25, will turn 65 years old in August.  As a result, it is time to set up her Medicare coverage (it's actually required to keep her Tricare coverage).  My research indicates that my wife will also qualify for Premium-Free Medicare Part A based on the following:

1.  She will be 65 years old soon (Medicare enrollment is open 3 months before until 3 months after her 65th birthday month).

2.  We have been married for 1 year or longer

3.  I, her spouse, am older than 62, and I already receive Social Security and Premium-Free Medicare Part A.

4.  She has been a legal resident for 5 years (next month).

 

She, like me and most other retirees, will have to pay for Medicare Part B.

 

This is pretty important (and a big, big relief to me) since people who do not qualify for Premium-Free Medicare can pay as much as $499.00 a month for Medicare Part A and an additional $170.00 a month for Medicare Part B.

Wow I'm right behind you at 67 (wife is 57) good reading and very nice to know! Where did you come across this information is there a link by chance? I had thought that the foreign born spouse would not be eligible for medicare. After I'm gone my Tricare for life and her Tricare prime (depending on her age) would be gone too! Then for her there would only be Medicare or whatever else she got once I am gone.

1 hour ago, Joyoussinger said:

This is helpful, @Crazy Cat. Thank you! I, the USC, am 67 and am on both Social Security and Medicare. My husband, is 63 and I've begun to look into this. Your post helps!

Wow lots of oldies but goodies LOL!

[Crazy Cat 41,980]

23 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

Where did you come across this information is there a link by chance?

I compiled and summarized it from several online sources.  I believe it is accurate.  This was one of my big worries until I did some extensive research.  

Here is a link which states how a non-working spouse of a retiree qualifies.  

https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-health-coverage-options/original-medicare-costs/qualifying-for-premium-free-part-a-based-on-your-spouses-work-history

 

This is the key phase:

"

When you turn 65, you may be eligible for premium-free Part A based on your spouse’s work history if:

• You are currently married and your spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits (either retirement or disability). You must have been married for at least one year before applying."

 

There are other requirements not listed in this particular article such 5 years as a Green Card holder.

Edited May 28, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,980]

31 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

I had thought that the foreign born spouse would not be eligible for medicare.

https://www.kff.org/faqs/medicare-open-enrollment-faqs/can-immigrants-enroll-in-medicare/

 

"Residents of the U.S., including citizens and permanent residents, are eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A if they have worked at least 40 quarters (10 years) in jobs where they or their spouses paid Medicare payroll taxes and are at least 65 years old."

[Sarge2155 4,589]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

I compiled and summarized it from several online sources.  I believe it is accurate.  This was one of my big worries until I did some extensive research.  

Here is a link which states how a non-working spouse of a retiree qualifies.  

https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-health-coverage-options/original-medicare-costs/qualifying-for-premium-free-part-a-based-on-your-spouses-work-history

 

This is the key phase:

"

When you turn 65, you may be eligible for premium-free Part A based on your spouse’s work history if:

• You are currently married and your spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits (either retirement or disability). You must have been married for at least one year before applying."

 

There are other requirements not listed in this particular article such 5 years as a Green Card holder.

Thank you. I also was worried about that!

[Lil bear 4,252]

Adding our experience to this thread .. thx for starting @Crazy Cat

 

Husband and I both Australian citizens. First period as LPR was in 1982-1989 through husbands work visa and AOS. We chose to return to Australia in 1989 and voluntarily relinquished our GC. When we left we had 36 SS quarters(his) and 19(mine). Fast forward 25 years and we returned to the US as parents of USC(IR5) at ages 65 and 62. Through husbands new job in DFW, he accrued the remaining 4 quarters and went on Medicare without any problems at all at 67, when he had accrued the required 40 quarters. SSA income received when he applied for it a age 70… I gained Medicare successfully at age 65 and spouse SSA at 66. Neither of us met the “5yr previous ” LPR status requirement,  but we met the 40quarter SSA requirement. 
It was such a relief to get through the Medicare and SS income hurdles. We pay Part B premiums, deducted automatically from our monthly SS payment, have Medicare Gap insurance and Part D. 😁

[Joyoussinger 1,425]

23 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Adding our experience to this thread .. thx for starting @Crazy Cat

 

Husband and I both Australian citizens. First period as LPR was in 1982-1989 through husbands work visa and AOS. We chose to return to Australia in 1989 and voluntarily relinquished our GC. When we left we had 36 SS quarters(his) and 19(mine). Fast forward 25 years and we returned to the US as parents of USC(IR5) at ages 65 and 62. Through husbands new job in DFW, he accrued the remaining 4 quarters and went on Medicare without any problems at all at 67, when he had accrued the required 40 quarters. SSA income received when he applied for it a age 70… I gained Medicare successfully at age 65 and spouse SSA at 66. Neither of us met the “5yr previous ” LPR status requirement,  but we met the 40quarter SSA requirement. 
It was such a relief to get through the Medicare and SS income hurdles. We pay Part B premiums, deducted automatically from our monthly SS payment, have Medicare Gap insurance and Part D. 😁

I'm just learning about this, and I may be wrong, but I think work credits earned in Australia can be added to work credits earned here to qualify for Social Security.

[Lil bear 4,252]

1 hour ago, Joyoussinger said:

I'm just learning about this, and I may be wrong, but I think work credits earned in Australia can be added to work credits earned here to qualify for Social Security.

Its really complex., and thankfully we avoided needing to navigate  that path. 

Edited May 28, 2022 by Lil bear

[Sarge2155 4,589]

40 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Adding our experience to this thread .. thx for starting @Crazy Cat

 

Husband and I both Australian citizens. First period as LPR was in 1982-1989 through husbands work visa and AOS. We chose to return to Australia in 1989 and voluntarily relinquished our GC. When we left we had 36 SS quarters(his) and 19(mine). Fast forward 25 years and we returned to the US as parents of USC(IR5) at ages 65 and 62. Through husbands new job in DFW, he accrued the remaining 4 quarters and went on Medicare without any problems at all at 67, when he had accrued the required 40 quarters. SSA income received when he applied for it a age 70… I gained Medicare successfully at age 65 and spouse SSA at 66. Neither of us met the “5yr previous ” LPR status requirement,  but we met the 40quarter SSA requirement. 
It was such a relief to get through the Medicare and SS income hurdles. We pay Part B premiums, deducted automatically from our monthly SS payment, have Medicare Gap insurance and Part D. 😁

My goodness you older folks are coming out of the woodwork!!!! 😄😄😄😄😄

[Lil bear 4,252]

Just now, Sarge2155 said:

My goodness you older folks are coming out of the woodwork!!!! 😄😄😄😄😄

I will take that as a complement .. not dead or useless yet !