Benefits of Medicare
Some of Medicare’s benefits include:
- It provides coverage for those who typically cannot afford it
- The cost is low compared to other health insurance policies
- It provides access to multiple prescriptions that would not have been previously available
Medicare contains has three parts
According to the Medicare website, the three parts of the program include:
- Medicare Part A: covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care
- Medicare Part B: covers certain doctor’s services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services
- Medicare Part D: covers the cost of prescription drugs as well as shots/vaccines
More on Medicare
Medicare, not to be confused with Medicaid, is a national federal health insurance program.
The program began in 1965 under the Social Security Administration and has since been administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
While the program is designed for people 65 and over, those who are younger can qualify if they have certain disabilities.
Those who have End-Stage Renal Disease also qualify no matter what age.
How to claim ex-spouse benefits, part three
According to the SSA, if you have been divorced for at least two continuous years, your ex-spouse is eligible to receive retirement benefits on your record even if you have not applied yet.
However, if they are eligible for their retirement benefits, Social Security will pay for that amount first.
If your benefits are higher, your ex will also get an additional amount from your record, ensuring that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount.
If your ex was born before January 2, 1954, and has reached full retirement age, they can choose to receive only the divorced spouse’s benefits, delaying their retirement benefit until a later time.
If your ex’s birthday is January 2, 1954, or later, the option to take only one benefit at full retirement age expires.
If your ex-spouse files for one benefit, they’ll be filing for all retirement or spousal benefits.
How to claim ex-spouse benefits, continued
The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of whatever your ex-spouse will collect at their full retirement age (FRA).
If you retired at your FRA in 2022, your maximum monthly benefit is $3,345.
This means that your ex-partner would be able to get up to $1,672.50 per month.
It’s important to note that an ex-spouse claiming benefits on your record will not reduce the amount you receive yourself.
To apply for spousal benefits after a divorce, visit the SSA website, call 1-800-772-1213, or head to the local Social Security office.
How to qualify for ex-spouse benefits
Ex-spouses are eligible to receive benefits on your record if they fall under a set number of categories.
These include:
- Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer
- Your ex-spouse is unmarried
- Your ex-spouse is 62 or older
- The benefit that your ex-spouse is entitled to receive based on their own work is less than the benefit they would receive based on your work
- You are entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits
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