The following is an archived collection of questions answered by AARP Bulletin Today's Ms. Medicare.  Click on each question for complete answers.

Eligibility
Enrollment Before Age 65
Q. Must I wait to reach 65 before I can get Medicare?

Working long enough to qualify?
Q. I haven’t worked long enough to qualify for Medicare. What are my options?

Can I get Medicare then when I become a U.S. Citizen?
Q. I am 70 years old and have never worked in the United States, so I don’t qualify for Social Security or Medicare. But next year I hope to become a U.S. citizen. Can I get Medicare then?

Options for medical coverage in retirement?
Q. I’m 58 and plan to retire at 60. As I worked outside the United States until 2004, I will have only 28 work credits toward Medicare at age 60. What are my options for medical coverage in retirement?

Enrollment
Signing up for Medicare
Q. I’ll turn 65 soon and am thinking about Medicare, but I don’t know how to sign up. What should I be doing?

What if I don't sign up at 65?
Q. What happens if I don’t sign up for Medicare when I’m 65?

Employer-sponsored health insurance
Q. I plan to keep working after I turn 65.  I have health insurance from my employer, so do I have to sign up for Medicare?

Retiree health benefits?
Q. I’ll retire at the end of the year, and fortunately my retiree benefits include medical and prescription drug insurance. Do I need to enroll in Medicare?

American citizen living overseas
Q. I’m an American citizen living overseas and plan to continue working outside of the United States for a few more years. But I’ll be 65 soon, so what should I do about Medicare?

Getting into Medicare if you miss enrollment
Q.  My mother is eligible for Medicare but did not sign up when she was supposed to.  What does she need to do to get into Medicare now?

Disenrollment
Disenrolling from Plan B
Q. I’ve had Medicare Part B for several years, but now I’m starting a job that provides health insurance. Can I disenroll from Part B? If so, how?

Out-of-Pocket Expenses
What is Medigap insurance?
Q. What is medigap insurance? Do I need it?

Paying a late penalty on Medicare Part B
Q. I signed up for Medicare Part B late and have a 30 percent penalty. Are there any programs or assistance to help me pay that premium? My only source of income is Social Security disability. I don’t qualify for Medicaid—tried twice. Any help?

Seeing a Doctor "On Assignment"
Q. What does seeing a doctor “on assignment” mean?

Coverage
Coverage in a Foreign Country
Q. Will Medicare cover any medical treatment in a foreign country? If not, what are my options?

Routine Physicals
Q. Can I get routine physical checkups under Medicare?

Staying in a nursing home
Q. I read that Medicare doesn’t pay for staying in a nursing home. But my friend is in a nursing home, and she says Medicare’s picking up the tab. Who’s right?

Medicare private health plans
Medicare’s Private Plans
Q. I’m confused over how Medicare’s private plans work. If I enroll in one of these plans, will I still be in Medicare or in some other system?

Locked In to a Medicare HMO
Q. I enrolled in a Medicare HMO at the beginning of this year and I’m now regretting it. Am I locked in? Or can I get back into traditional Medicare without waiting until the end of the year?

Changing HMOs
Q. My mother-in-law just moved from Southern to Northern California. Her Medicare HMO is not available in her new home area. Can she change HMOs even though it is not open enrollment at present? How does she go about changing?

Sources of information and help
Medicare Info For Non-Native English Speakers
Q. I guess many people find Medicare hard to understand, but it’s worse when English isn’t your first language. Is there any help for us?