Mrs. Chen will be 65 soon, has been a citizen for twelve years, has been employed full time, and paid taxes during that entire period. She is concerned that she will not qualify for coverage under part A because she was not born in the United States. What should you tell her?
a. Most individuals who are citizens and age 65 or over are covered under Part A by virtue of having paid Medicare taxes while working, though some may be covered as a result of paying monthly premiums.
Mrs. Chen should not worry about her eligibility for Medicare Part A coverage. If she has been working and paying Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) in the United States, she should be eligible for premium-free Part A coverage when she turns 65. Her place of birth does not affect this eligibility as long as she is a U.S. citizen. However, if she has not paid Medicare taxes for the required duration, she may still get Part A but would have to pay premiums.