Government employees hired or rehired after March 31, 1986, are Medicare Qualified Government Employees. This applies to most employees working in the local, state, or federal sector. MQGEs can enroll in Original Medicare when they become eligible. However, they won’t have access to disability insurance or other Social Security benefits. Further, you must take Medicare if you were hired or rehired after March 31, 1986. If you’re a federal employee hired before that date, you’re not an MQGE. Instead, you’re covered under FICA‘s Section 218 agreement, meaning you don’t need to take Medicare or pay Social Security or Medicare taxes if you’re part of a public retirement system.
Like other Medicare beneficiaries, MQGEs won’t have to pay a monthly premium for Part A if they’ve worked at least 40 quarters. Yet, if they work between 30 and 40 quarters, they’ll have to pay a partial premium, and a full premium if they’ve worked fewer than 30 quarters. Once you’ve determined how many quarters you’ve worked, you can calculate your estimated monthly premiums and find out if you qualify for Medicare. MQGEs also need to pay the standard monthly Part B premium to receive outpatient coverage.