Q: I will be retiring from federal service at age 58 with 35 years of service under the Civil Service Retirement System. I have been paying the 1.45 percent Medicare biweekly payment since its inception in 1983. Will this tax be deducted from my monthly CSRS annuity until I reach age 65? And, without 40 quarters of paying into Social Security, does paying the Medicare tax for 17 years qualify me for free Medicare Part A?
A: Deductions for Medicare Part A are only required for those who have earnings from wages or self-employment, not annuities. The fact that you won’t be eligible for a Social Security benefit has no bearing on your eligibility to be covered by Medicare Part A at age 65.
