New data shows Medicare Advantage enrollment surpassed 35 million beneficiaries in early 2026. Much of the growth came from Special Needs Plans designed for individuals with chronic conditions or limited income. While the program continues to expand, analysts note that enrollment growth has slowed compared with previous years.
Does My Medicare Plan Provide Coverage for My Spouse?
When people say “my Medicare Plan” it is often hard to tell if they mean Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Plan, or a Medigap plan. In what follows, we are referred to Part A, hospital insurance, only.
Who Gets Covered on Whose Plan?
The answer to “does my Medicare cover my spouse” is always “no” because Medicare was designed from the very beginning as coverage for each individual, not couples. The real question is, “can my spouse be covered based on my Social Security earning record?”, and the answer there, as with so much else in Medicare, is “it depends.”
The Role of Work
To be eligible for Social Security, and therefore for Medicare, one normally must have worked in covered employment for 40 quarters, or ten years. The variations come in when one spouse meets the 40-quarter requirement and the other doesn’t.
If one spouse meets the 40-quarter requirement and the other doesn’t, the nonworking spouse is covered based on the earnings record of the working spouse when both turn 65. No premium is charged. Part A is free.
If the working spouse is at least 62 and the non-working spouse is over 65, the non-working spouse is eligible for Medicare as soon as the working spouse turns 62. No premium is charged. If the working spouse is younger than 62, the spouse over 65 can get Medicare Part A by paying a premium until the working spouse attains 62. The premium for Part A is $471 per month in 2021 if you spouse worked less than 30 quarters and $259 if your spouse worked between 20 and 39 quarters.
The Effects of Divorce and Marriage
A divorced spouse may be eligible for Medicare at 65 based on a spouse’s earnings record if they were married to the former spouse for at least ten years. To qualify based on your spouse’s earnings record, you must have been married at least a year.
If you’re widowed or a widower and were married for at least nine months, you can qualify on your deceased spouse’s earnings record.
If there were multiple marriages and divorces, you can qualify for Medicare based on the earnings record of only one spouse.
The Effect of Disability
Those who receive Social Security disability are eligible for premium-free Medicare after two years from the date they were found disabled. Because of the way Social Security treats disability earnings, you may qualify based on your own earnings record even if you do not have 40 quarters (ten years) of covered employment.
If all the foregoing is less than clear to you, you’re not alone. If you have questions, contact your local Social Security office, which also handles Medicare issues. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE to contact Medicare directly.
There are plenty of changes that come with getting older, both physically and mentally. Aging seniors have been known to find out very quickly that the later years can bring a change in mental health and wellness. Getting older isn’t always easy, and for a lot of seniors, it comes with a healthy dose of isolation. This can be devastating, but it is not inevitable. In this article, we will discuss the ways that seniors can combat depression and increase overall wellness through fitness.
Seniors and Mental Health
Our mental health can change throughout the years for a variety of reasons. As we get older, those reasons have a tendency to show up more often than we might expect. Aging can come with decreased physical health, unpleasant limitations, personal struggles, and loss. It is normal for seniors to see their social circles getting smaller throughout the years. For this reason and countless others, seniors can find themselves feeling isolated and even depressed.
How Fitness Influences Our Overall Wellness
There are many different ways to improve how we feel about ourselves and the lives that we lead. Fitness is one of the biggest influencers when it comes to improving our health and wellness, and that doesn’t go away just because we get older. If anything, fitness can become even more important for wellness as we get older.
Physical Benefits
Fitness brings our bodies a great deal of assistance when we embrace it. The physical benefits that are associated with exercise can be plentiful, and a lot of them are great for helping us to age with more comfort. When we actively embrace fitness and live more active lifestyles, we encourage our bodies to thrive by offering additional support.
In general, exercise is good for the body. It helps to strengthen our muscles, and it can also have positive impacts on how the systems in our body work. This can help us to experience less pain and to maintain independence and higher activity levels over time. Active seniors are more likely to spend time with friends and family, and to feel more independent, even as they age.
Mental Benefits
While the physical benefits of exercise are wonderful, the mental benefits are nothing to scoff at. Physical activity can go a long way when it comes to giving your mind a boost. It encourages our bodies to share more of the good chemicals, which can help to decrease instances of depression or anxiety. People who are physically active are generally happier, and this becomes more important during our later years.
The Takeaway
Too often, we normalize the idea that aging has to be an unpleasant experience. In reality, it often becomes an indicator of how you treat your body. Seniors that get exercise are more likely to live healthy and fulfilling lives, even as the years tick by. Exercise can help you to maintain mobility, empower you to head out to lunch with friends, and make it possible for you to see your grandkids grow up too. Choosing to be more active can help you to live a happier and more positive life, so remember to make decisions that push you towards that brighter future!
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