About Qualifying for Medicare

The U.S. government provides Medicare to seniors, (which means, those over 65) and other people with specific medical problems. The Center for Medicare Services (or CMS) executes the program. To take full advantage of it, visit your health care provider for the right forms and to get help with details on your application.

Contact your Social Security office to find out more about the current Medicare requirements for coverage, in that they tend to change with time. However, currently this is what Medicare covers.

For Providers

If you provide medical services and would like to take part in the Government program, submit the CMS 10115 application form (this works well for most medical providers). Additional forms for medical providers are listed and discussed below.

1. Form CMS 855A, Medical Enrollment Application - Institutional Providers applies to: Critical Access Hospitals, Community Mental Health Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities, and additional specific facilities that are listed on the form. This application can be downloaded from cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms855a.pdf

2. Form CMS 855B titled Medicare Enrollment Application - Clinics/Group Practices and Certain Other Suppliers. It applies to Ambulance Service Suppliers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Independent Clinical Labs, Clinic/Group Practices, and other specific facilities listed on the form. This form is available for download from cms.hhs.gov/CMSforms/downloads/cms855b.pdf

In order to get one of the above Medicare forms, copy the link that best applies to you, and then paste it into your browser. After the link is in your address bar, press enter.

For Individuals

Everybody over 65 is automatically eligible for National health care. Other than that, you may also be eligible for Medicare coverage if you've got a medical problem that's disabled you for at least two years. Anybody who already receives Social Security will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Because Part B requires a premium payment, you may not want to include It in your application. Those that are automatically eligible for Medicare insurance (due to their age) will be informed a couple of months before their 65th birth date about what they're going to need to start the process of registration.

If your eligibility for Medicare is based on need rather than age based, you'll have to fill out an additional application to receive benefits. You can get this application at the Social Security office. If you need assistance, you'll find a social security office at SocialSecurity.gov  be on the lookout for the "Find a Social Security Office" link, which will bring you to the tool for locating an office.

Nobody can deny you coverage and benefits of the National health care program. It is the United States government's way of providing affordable medical care for all seniors and badly ill citizens in America. It's our means of guaranteeing a greater standard of universal health care, and our right to have open access to Government sponsored insurance coverage.