ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICARE PART A
(Hospital Insurance Coverage)
Medicare Part A is free to any person age 65 or older who is either:

• Eligible to receive a monthly Social Security benefit, or
• Eligible based on wages on which sufficient Medicare payroll taxes were paid.

You automatically apply for Medicare Part A when you apply for Social Security benefits.  Your spouse may also qualify for Part A coverage at age 65, based on your eligibility for Social Security.  To be eligible for Part A, you do not have to enroll in Part B.  If you are not eligible for free Part A coverage, you may purchase this coverage.

Medicare Part A is free to any person under age 65 who is disabled and has either:

• Received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months as a worker, surviving spouse, or adult child of a retired, disabled, or deceased worker; or
• Accumulated a sufficient number of Social Security credits to be insured for Medicare and meets the requirements of the Social Security disability program.