Medicare covers RR beneficiaries who are age 65 or entitled to a disability for 24 consecutive months. A Qualified Railroad Retirement Beneficiary (QRRB) is an individual whose HI-SMI coverage is under the jurisdiction of RRB but the Medicare records are maintained by CMS (see HI 00801.011). The individual may be entitled to SS benefits.

Based on the Railroad and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001, effective 01/01/2002 if the employee has less than 10 years of RR service but with at least 5 years of RR service after December 31, 1995, RRB will have jurisdiction of Medicare for employees, their spouses and survivors. (See HI 00801.001 ff.)