SanDiegogirl

Correct...... they need 40 quarters to qualify for full Medicare and not pay for Part A.
If that takes until 70, then that is what it will be.

SanDiegogirl

..... correct.... so asking the question brings it to the forefront of the sponsor's mind..........

natodo

We have a high household income, so money will not be an issue. We can help them out.
However, they would like to be able to have their own income and I was hoping not to have to worry about astronomical healthcare costs for them :/

(As long as he is able to find work), my father plans to work and pay taxes for at least 10 years here before he retires - this would take him over the age of 65 though.
I believed this meant they would qualify for Medicare when the time came - I am now thinking qualifying quarters cuts off at age 65, even if still working?

thank you to everybody for their questions questions and answers

Nutmegger

I'm not convinced that this is the case. As long as your parents don't apply for social security before the 40 quarters are completed, I think they can keep on accruing them. However, 70 is the last age to apply for social security -- the other ages are 62 and 66 -- so they would have to have the 40 by then. (Of course, people can apply all other ages in between, but these are the tiers -- apply at age 64 and you'll get the age 62 rate, for instance.) One must sign on to Medicare at 65, but the social security age isn't connected to that. For instance, if one doesn't take social security until age 70, one pays the Medicare premiums out of pocket. Once the SS payments start, Medicare is deducted from that at source.

By the way, your folks should look into continuing to pay into the UK state pension system in order to optimize that -- you will find threads on the topic.

Rete

This is not true. Hubby didn't have 40 quarters by the time he was 65 and worked until age 69 to earn his 40 quarters so he could retire with a social security benefit. He could not piggyback me, because of our 7 year age difference I was not near to retirement or medicare.

civilservant

I'll concede to the first hand knowledge here

Question is still up in the air if this applies to Medicare though, since you must enroll in Medicare at 65.

SanDiegogirl

You accrue credits for Medicare for as long as you pay Medicare premiums while you are working.
So, potentially, your father could work until such time as he gets the 40 credits.
If he does not have 40 credits by time he is 65, he won't automatically qualify for Medicare.

natodo

Thank you for replying.
Did your husband have the same issue with Medicare? Was he able to continue working until he had 40 quarters so he qualified for free part A?
I spoke to a lady at Medicare, and she seemed to imply that at 65, my father would enroll in Medicare and pay the monthly amount depending on quarters he has at that time..... but he could continue working and contributing and eventually would reach 40 quarters and qualify for free premium A. Was this your husband's experience too?
It is all so confusing 😕

natodo

Thank you, I will look into those threads too

civilservant

That's how I read it too, assuming that he is able to work enough to accrue more.

Until then, they will be paying the premium, which will half when they hit 39 quarters. You should be realistic about how long they are both able to work though, I don't think your plan is terribly viable personally.

Rete

From husband's experience: He came to the US and we married when he was 57. Didn't start working full time until he was age 58-1/2. Of course, he was not eligible for medicare at age 65 and never thought to register. He had full healthcare coverage from the school union which continued to insure him and me and is still our supplemental insurance. When finally had enough quarters just before his 70th birthday, he then registered for social security benefits and medicare and there was no penalty.

civilservant

That's interesting. Everything I have ever read says that there is always a penalty for not signing up for Medicare when first eligible. Perhaps this is only where the requisite quarters have been earned?

robin1234

Isn’t the major exemption to the penalty that you are working and have employer-provided health insurance?

Rete

I'm thinking that as well. I was eligible when I was 65 but didn't register because I was fully insured under my husband's plan. When I finally decided to retire at 66.3 (eligible at age 65), I paid no penalty for registering for medicare at that time either.

civilservant

While that might be true, I routinely see people with MSP (Medicare Secondary Payor) where the person has a primary insurance (usually through employment, or maybe as a result of a liability accident) and then Medicare picks up when/if the primary does not pay for whatever reason.

In that situation, they have obviously still signed up at 65, regardless of having continued to work (or be covered by a younger working spouses insurance)