Does anyone know something about Medicare?

[onlyj]

My parents are 60 years and although they have to wait 5 more years until medicare, I was just wondering how the program worked. I checked the website and it said they needed to pay medicare taxes to receive the medicare without having to pay anything. My dad works as a limousine driver for a company. The company does not take out taxes so my dad pays for the taxes when he files for the tax return. How will medicare work in this case? They don't have health insurance right now because they can't afford it. Is there anyway someone can help me? My parents do pay for taxes, but they pay when filing the tax returns.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Are you asking about Medicare or Medicaid? HUGE difference!

[onlyj]

medicare, oops

[NSGstudent12]

I may be wrong, but for regular Medicare you have to be 65 or older..or disabled. They could apply for Medicare Part D, there are hundreds of diff plans to choose from. Something like Humana or AARP.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx

Took

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

corrected title to medicare.

medicare queen here...deal with this as home health mgr all the time.

medicare insurance: eligibility, benefits, qualify for supplemental help

one needs to pay into medicare trust fund in order to get benefits.

since your father is self-employed, he should be paying into medicare on a quarterly or annual basis. yearly, social security sends a statement of future benefits (form ssa-700) that lists payments made in prior year, when eligible for retirement and payment expected. they can contact social security via web, www.ssa.gov , local office or calling 1-800-772-1213 to get a statement sent to them.

your retirement benefit: how it is figured

retirement benefits

see my thread: medication assistance programs: free or reduced cost

feel free to send pm if need more info.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

In a previous post you stated that your parents were under age 60. Unless they are disabled (as determined by the social security administration), have end stage renal disease (diagnosis of at least 6 months), ALS, or are age 65 they are not entitled to medicare coverage.

I believe that you said that you are in NJ, there are two plans available for adults who are not otherwise insured:

Individual Health Coverage: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/ihcseh/ihcmain.htm

and the pre-existing condition ("high risk") insurance plan that is part of the federal plan: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/njprotect/index.htm

There are also federally qualified family health centers ("clinics")/primary health centers that provide services on a sliding scale for those without insurance and not eligible for medicaid or medicare:

http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/cphc/index.shtml

[lillymom]

I may be wrong, but for regular Medicare you have to be 65 or older..or disabled. They could apply for Medicare Part D, there are hundreds of diff plans to choose from. Something like Humana or AARP.

Medicare Part D is for drug coverage only. Humana is an advantage plan(non-traditional Medicare plan) may or may not include drug coverage. The same rules for Medicare still apply. Medicare can get very complicated if you don't work with it on a routine basis. The best way to find out is to talk to a local senoir service center. :)

[Katie82, RN]

Medicare is funded through deductions taken directly from your paycheck. If your father is working "under the table" he may not be paying into the system. Has he always worked for this company? At some point in his life, he may have been working for a company that paid Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes for him. THis would get him into the system. Does he qualify for Social Security when he decides to retire?WHen he retires and begins drawing Social Security, and reaches the age of 65, Medicare will begin deducting the "premium" for Medicare. There are two coverages, Part A, which is mandatory and covers hospitalization, and Part B which is voluntary and involves a premium, usually around $90 a month. Unless your father has worked for this limo company since he was a teenager, chances are he has paid both Social Security and Medicare taxes at some point, which will make him elegible for both. Both of these taxes are seperate from income tax. Check your paystub, you will see that your employer is deducting at least three taxes - income, FICA and Medicare. In the meantime, check out the programs for the state in which you live. Some offer income-dependent Medical Assistance programs, especially if your parents have a chronic condition like COPD or Diabetes.

[7Jkm7]

The payments to Social Security (FICA) and Medicare from our paychecks are cumulative throughout our working life. Any quarters he paid for at anytime during his working years will count in determining eligibility when he turns 65. He can go to his local Social Security Office and inquire. They will tell him exactly how many quarters he has paid and if that is enough to qualify. If it is insufficient, he has five years until he reaches 65 (you said he is now 60 yrs old) to try to amass and pay more quarters in applicable taxes.