Can a family member register a dependent for Medicare?

Medicare health benefits are available only to individuals, with no ability to add a dependent or additional beneficiaries, explains Michelle Andrews for The New York Times. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act provisions allowing children to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26 do not apply to Medicare.

As of 2010, children without health insurance benefits due to their parent electing to begin receiving Medicare benefits are eligible to retain their parents' former health plan benefits for three additional years through the federal Cobra program, according to Andrews. The parent and any dependents are responsible for paying the entire Cobra premium, plus a 2percent administrative fee.