Medicare Knowledge Test

[GailL1]

  Do you know the answer?

  Can a person get Medicare benefits WITHOUT being eligible for any of the programs covered by Social Security - Retirement, Disability or Survivors Benefits?

[cat0w]

I would suggest a person look at the Medicare website.

Get started with Medicare | Medicare

[GailL1]

@cat0w 

I know the answer, it’s a question for the wits - a game.

It is on the Social Security website since that is where one goes to sign up for Medicare but it a bit vague.  

But YES, a person can have Medicare and not be eligible for ANY Social Security Benefit - Retirement, Disability or Survivors.

[DirkB349973]

Yes, but you would need to pay your part B premiums out of pocket since they would not be able to take them from your social security payment. I signed up for Medicare before I had Social Security and had to do this. I naively assumed that SS and Medicare started soon after you signed up. It actually took 2 or 3 months to get things rolling. My wife was older than 65 when we signed up and had creditable coverage under my work policy so I had to go back to my former employer and get coverage documentation. We had money stashed away so my short sightedness caused some anxiety but no hardship.

[PS]

i just reread your question and you said "without being eligible". I'm not sure why you would be eligible for one and not the other so I guess I don't know the answer.

[GailL1]

@DirkB349973 

You get about 1/4th of the cigar.  You are correct in that since they never get a Social Security benefit, they do have to continuously pay their Part B premiums unless they qualify for a Medicare Savings Program that pays the premium for them.  

Now,WHO, can get Medicare without getting any Social Security benefits -

ANSWER:  those local government employees who get a pension from this local government agency in lieu of paying into the Social Security system and then the “match” amount which the local government refuses to pay - thus NO Social Security benefit at all from this employment.

However, they cannot escape the Medicare payroll tax that pays for Medicare Part A - and the match from this local government.  This is mandated.

So they get a Medicare benefit just like everybody else yet they cannot participate in the Social Security system - retirement, disability or survivors benefits.