teachers and medicare

Eligibility for Medicare for state and local employees varies by locality. Please check with your employer for details.

For example, members of the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System, obtain Medicare coverage by contributing only to the Medicare program :
http://finance.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/04714E70-E9CF-404F-ACD3-6863D40091D0/...

You can also qualify through a spouse's work record, or even through your current job :

Most people 65 or older are eligible for Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) based on their own—or their spouse's— employment. You are eligible at 65 if you:

• Receive Social Security or railroad retirement benefits;
• Are not getting Social Security or railroad retirement benefits, but you have worked long enough to be eligible for them;
• Would be entitled to Social Security benefits based on your spouse's (or divorced spouse's) work record, and that spouse is at least 62 (your spouse does not have to apply for benefits in order for you to be eligible based on your spouse's work) ;or
• Worked long enough in a federal, state, or local government job to be insured for Medicare.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/400