this is unbelievable - too many holes, in our imperfect system...

to those who have been divorced by a spouse after being married for more than 10 -15- 20 years?

Who is eligible for Medicare?

Medicare is a program for eligible workers and retirees. Persons are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 if they have worked and paid into the Social Security system or if their spouse has paid into the system. Certain workers who become severely disabled before age 65 and no longer can work are also eligible for Medicare. These individuals, however, must wait for 29 months from the time the Social Security Administration determines they have a severe and permanent disability until they can begin to receive benefits.

The Medicare law exempts two groups of nonelderly individuals from the waiting period: persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and persons with end-stage renal disease (ESRD or kidney failure). These individuals qualify for Medicare coverage soon after they have been determined to have a permanent disability.

Additionally, certain dependent adult children of Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare if they developed a permanent and severe disability before age 22. The two-year waiting period applies and starts when an individual turns 18 (or when he or she is determined to be disabled if it is after age 18). Spouses and dependents can also continue to receive Medicare after the death of the primary Medicare beneficiary. Back to the Top


http://www.kff.org/medicare/7240/medicare.cfm#a1