Wondering if you can receive Medicare in the state of Florida? If you’re over the age of 65, you likely qualify for Medicare – you’ve paid into this system throughout your life. However, there are exceptions for people under 65 who have certain disabilities or conditions, such as end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). Below, our team at Thomas & Associates wanted to share some basic Medicare eligibility information for patients of different ages or conditions in Florida.
Medicare in Florida for People Over 65
If your over 65, to qualify for Medicare you must be eligible for or be receiving Social Security benefits from the federal government. You also need to be a permanent resident of the United States and have lived in the states continuously for a minimum of five years. You have to meet both of these stipulations in order to receive Medicare.
The enrollment process for a 65-year-old depends on when you receive Social Security benefits; Railroad Retirement benefits can also factor into enrollment. The amount you will pay toward a monthly Medicare premium will depend on how much money you paid into Medicare taxes throughout your working life. The more you put in, the less your premium will be. However, this only applies to Medicare Part B, which is medical insurance. Most people choose Medicare Part A, hospital insurance, because there is no monthly premium.
Medicare in Florida for People Under 65.
In Florida, you can receive Medicare under 65 if you are disabled or have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments for over 24 months. Most patients need to go through a two-year waiting period before automatic enrollment. Medicare will be granted on the 25th month this person receives Social Security Disability payments. If you have ALS, you do not have to wait 24 months and can receive payments from month one of SSDI payments. If you have worked long enough and paid enough into Social Security, you can get these healthcare benefits.
Other Eligibility for Medicare Besides Age
If a person under 20 years old suffers from End-Stage Renal Disease, he/she is eligible for Medicare in Florida. However, to qualify for Medicare, the parents of these patients must be eligible for or be receiving Social Security benefits. In addition, individuals must pay in by working 40 quarters to qualify, or through their spouse’s work history.
If a person isn’t a United States citizen, he/she can qualify if he/she received Social Security benefits. Many immigrants or qualified aliens have worked and paid taxes, if they have paid enough taxes into Social Security and Medicare, they can be eligible.
Applying for Medicare in Florida
The above information is just a brief overview of eligibility requirements for Medicare in Florida. For more detailed information about eligibility, qualifications, and tax contributions, our team can help you understand more about what is needed for you to be eligible.
At Thomas & Associates, we have years of experience helping people find and apply for the right Medicare insurance plan. We will help you choose a plan that covers the services you need and let you know how and when you are eligible.
Once you are eligible, our certified agent brokers at Thomas & Associates insurance agency in Jacksonville, Florida, can help you select a Medicare insurance plan that is best suited to medical needs and finances.
We want to help you find the right Medicare plan. Contact us to get a quote today! To work with us, click our Jacksonville Medicare insurance contact page or call 904.730.3900.