Medicare Blog

will i get medicare from the time i became disabled or when i filed

by Gideon Kemmer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Individuals who file for Social Security Disability benefits and are approved will be eligible at some point to receive medicare benefits (individuals who are approved for SSI

Social Security Administration

The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits. To qualify for most of these benefits, most workers pay Social …

disability do not receive medicare, but, instead, receive medicaid).

You have to wait two years after you are entitled to disability benefits to get Medicare unless you fit into an exception. All Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) recipients can receive Medicare coverage two years after the first month they're eligible for their monthly disability benefits.

Full Answer

Can you get Medicare early if you are disabled?

 · How long do people on disability have to wait to become eligible for Medicare? Once you have collected SSDI payments for two years, you will become eligible for Medicare. You won’t even have to sign up—Medicare will automatically enroll you in Part A and Part B and mail your Medicare card to you shortly before your coverage begins.

When can I get Medicare after disability?

Since it has been two years since your Date of Entitlement, you will start receiving Medicare benefits in December 2018. But, if you recently become disabled and were approved with an entitlement date of August 2018, you would not become eligible …

How much does Medicare cost at age 65?

 · If you're eligible for Medicare because you have a disability and you're not yet 65, your IEP is the 7-month period surrounding your eligibility. This starts the 3 months before your 25th month of receiving disability benefits, which is when you'll receive your Medicare card. It also includes the 25th month and the 3 months after.

Can you get Medicare at 62?

 · Some people can qualify for Medicare due to disability. In this case, if you have a qualifying disability, you are eligible for Medicare even if you are not yet age 65. To find out if your disability qualifies for disability benefits or for Medicare, you’ll need to speak with Social Security directly, but in general, you become eligible the 25th month of receiving Social Security …

Does Medicare automatically come with disability?

You will typically be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and B, after you've received Social Security disability benefits (or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits) for two straight years. Your Medicare coverage will start 24 months from the month you qualified for disability benefits.

How long does an SSDI recipient wait for their Medicare to start?

24 monthsEveryone eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is also eligible for Medicare after a 24-month qualifying period. The first 24 months of disability benefit entitlement is the waiting period for Medicare coverage.

Are Medicare benefits retroactive?

If you accept a retroactive lump sum from Social Security because you enroll after your full retirement age and you haven't yet signed up for Medicare, that health coverage would be retroactive, as well.

Why does Medicare have a two year waiting period?

The original purposes of the 24month waiting period were to limit costs to the Medicare trust funds at a time when many workers might have other health insurance coverage and to ensure that Medicare protection is extended only to persons whose disabilities are severe and long lasting.

What is the 5 month waiting period for SSDI?

Generally, if your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is approved, you must wait five months before you can receive your first SSDI benefit payment. This means you would receive your first payment in the sixth full month after the date we find that your disability began.

Does Medicare have a waiting period?

The Medicare waiting period is a 2-year period that people need to wait before they're enrolled in Medicare coverage. The waiting period is only for those receiving SSDI, and doesn't apply if you're 65 years old or older. Americans are eligible to enroll in Medicare up to 3 months before their 65th birthday.

Is Medicare retroactive for 6 months?

Part A, and you can enroll in Part A at any time after you're first eligible for Medicare. Your Part A coverage will go back (retroactively) 6 months from when you sign up (but no earlier than the first month you are eligible for Medicare).

Who is eligible for Medicare disability?

Medicare is available for certain people with disabilities who are under age 65. These individuals must have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months or have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

Can you receive Medicare Part B retroactively?

Social Security also offers you Part B coverage retroactively if you want it—while making it clear that, if you accept, you must pay backdated Part B premiums for the time period in question, which can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

How long does it take for Medicare to approve a procedure?

Medicare takes approximately 30 days to process each claim. Medicare pays Part A claims (inpatient hospital care, inpatient skilled nursing facility care, skilled home health care and hospice care) directly to the facility or agency that provides the care.

What happens to my Medicare disability when I turn 65?

What Happens When You Turn 65? When you turn 65, you essentially lose your entitlement to Medicare based on disability and become entitled based on age. In short, you get another chance to enroll, a second Initial Enrollment Period if you will.

Will I lose Medicare if I lose SSDI?

Can someone on SSDI continue Medicare coverage when they return to work? Yes. If you go off SSDI when you return to work you can continue Medicare coverage for 93 months after completing the 9 months work period.

How long can you wait to get Medicare if you are disabled?

But, because Social Security only allows a maximum of 12 months of retroactive benefits, plus the 5-month waiting period for benefits, the earliest that you can become eligible for Medicare is one year ...

How long does it take to get Medicare after receiving SSDI?

Qualifying for Medicare When Receiving Disability Benefits. Medicare coverage kicks in for most SSDI recipients two years after the first month they are eligible for their monthly disability benefits. However, this doesn’t automatically mean that every person approved for SSDI must wait two years to get their Medicare coverage.

How long is the waiting period for Medicare?

The two-year Medicare waiting period generally gets calculated from the date of your SSDI entitlement (the date you are eligible to receive your monthly award). Normally, this is the date your disability began plus the five-month SSDI waiting period.

When will Medicare start?

Since it has been two years since your Date of Entitlement, you will start receiving Medicare benefits in December 2018. But, if you recently become disabled and were approved with an entitlement date of August 2018, you would not become eligible to receive Medicare benefits until August 2020.

Do you have to wait to receive medicaid if you are on SSI?

For SSI recipients, there is no waiting period to receive Medicaid.

Do you get Medicaid if you are approved for SSI?

In most states, if you are approved for SSI, you will receive benefits automatically through Medicaid as SSI’s income and asset limits mirror that of Medicaid’s .

People who have a qualifying disability can sign up for Medicare before they turn 65

Even if you're not 65, you may qualify for Medicare if you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

How to apply for Medicare if you have a disability

Before you can apply for Medicare you must first be approved for disability benefits through either the SSA or RRB. Once you're approved, and after you receive those benefits for 24 months, you're automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B during month 25.

Do you have to take Medicare Part B?

You do not have to enroll in Part B, but there are a few things to consider before deciding to delay enrollment.

How to apply for Social Security disability benefits

If you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings, you're eligible to qualify for SSDI or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While these two programs are different, they both provide or pay benefits to those who have disabilities.

What information do you need to apply for disability?

Preparing ahead of time to complete the disability benefits application can help make the process smoother and quicker. There is a variety of information and documentation you'll need in order to complete the application.

Don't forget the Initial Enrollment Period

Even if you're automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B, you'll want to be sure you know when your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is. During your IEP, you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare health plan, a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Other ways to qualify for Medicare before turning 65

There are other ways you can qualify for Medicare prior to your 65th birthday.

How long can you keep Medicare if you are disabled?

If you get Medicare due to disability and then decide to go back to work, you can keep your Medicare coverage for as long as you’re medically disabled.3 And, if you do go back to work, you won’t have to pay the Part A premium for the first 8.5 years.

How long does it take to get Medicare at 65?

Just like when you become eligible for Medicare at age 65, when you are eligible with disability, you have an Initial Enrollment Period of 7 months. Your Initial Enrollment Period will begin after you have received either disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months or certain disability benefits from the Rail Road Retirement Board ...

How to qualify for ESRD?

Note, according to Medicare in order to qualify with ESRD all of the below must apply:9 1 Your kidneys no longer work 2 You need dialysis regularly or have had a kidney transplant 3 One of the following must be true for you:#N#You’re already eligible for or are currently getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits#N#You have worked the required amount of time under Social Security, the RRB or as an employee of the government#N#You are either the spouse or dependent child of someone who meets either of the above requirements

What happens when you turn 65?

When you turn 65, you essentially lose your entitlement to Medicare based on disability and become entitled based on age. In short, you get another chance to enroll, a second Initial Enrollment Period if you will.6. If you decided not to take Part B when you were eligible for disability under 65, when you do turn 65, ...

What is Medicare Made Clear?

Medicare Made Clear is brought to you by UnitedHealthcare to help make understanding Medicare easier. Click here to take advantage of more helpful tools and resources from Medicare Made Clear including downloadable worksheets and guides.

When do you get Medicare if you qualify for ALS?

If you qualify with ALS: You will automatically get Medicare Part A and Part B the month your disability benefits begin. 7

Can I get medicare if I am disabled?

In this case, if you have a qualifying disability, you are eligible for Medicare even if you are not yet age 65. To find out if your disability qualifies for disability benefits or for Medicare, you’ll need to speak with Social Security directly, but in general, you become eligible the 25th month of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI).

How long do you have to wait to get medicare after being approved for Social Security?

However, in most cases, individuals who have been approved for Social Security Disability do not actually have to wait two years to receive medicare.

How long does it take to get medicare if you file for SSI?

Medicare based upon Social Security Disability will begin two years after the first date ...

How long does Medicare take to start?

Medicare based upon Social Security Disability will begin two years after the first date that you are entitled to receive a Social Security Disability benefit. What does this mean?

Can I file for medicare if I am approved for SSI?

Individuals who file for Social Security Disability benefits and are approved will be eligible at some point to receive medicare benefits (individuals who are approved for SSI disability do not receive medicare, but, instead, receive medicaid).

How long do you have to sign up for a health insurance plan?

You also have 8 months to sign up after you or your spouse (or your family member if you’re disabled) stop working or you lose group health plan coverage (whichever happens first).

When does Part A coverage start?

If you qualify for Premium-free Part A: Your Part A coverage starts the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first of the month, coverage starts the month before you turn 65.)

When does insurance start?

Generally, coverage starts the month after you sign up.

How long do you have to wait to get Medicare?

You have to wait two years after you are entitled to disability benefits to get Medicare unless you fit into an exception. All Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) recipients can receive Medicare coverage two years after the first month they are eligible for their monthly disability benefits. This does not mean that every individual who is ...

Why is there a two year waiting period for Medicare?

Why the two-year waiting period for Medicare? Social Security has had this two-year waiting period in place since Medicare became part of the disability process. The waiting period was put in place as a cost-saving measure, so it is very unlikely it will ever change.

How long does it take for Medicare to start?

On the other hand, for disability applicants who apply for benefits only when they become disabled, and not before, the date that their Medicare coverage will start is more likely to be two years and five months after they apply for disability.

When will Makayla get her SSDI?

Makayla applies for disability on August 1, 2019, the day after she quit work due to her disability. Thirteen months later, on September 1, 2020, she is approved for SSDI benefits with a disability onset date of August 1, 2019. She is eligible for retroactive benefits only going back to January 1, 2020, five months after her disability onset date. Because her date of entitlement is January 1, 2020, she'll be eligible for Medicare on January 1, 2022. Note that her eligibility for Medicare starts two years and five months after her application date.

When will Isaiah be eligible for Medicare?

But he is eligible for retroactive benefits only going back to October 1, 2018, five months after his disability onset date. Because his date of entitlement is October 1, 2018, he'll be eligible for Medicare on October 1, 2020. Note that his eligibility for Medicare starts only 14 months after his application date, and only one month after his decision date.

How long does it take to get a disability decision?

(For some claims that go through the appeal process to a hearing in front of an administrative law judge, it can take one to two years to get a disability decision.)

When does Medicare cover end stage renal disease?

If you require ongoing dialysis or a kidney transplant, Medicare coverage can begin the third month after the month in which your dial ysis began. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) qualify for Medicare as soon as they are eligible ...

How long is the waiting period for Medicare?

Medicare was originally intended for those over 65, and when Medicare was expanded to include persons with disabilities, a very expensive expansion, the two-year waiting period was added as a cost-saving measure.

How many people die while waiting for Medicare?

Indeed, about 4% of disability recipients die while waiting for Medicare coverage. Over the last several years, there have been legislative attempts to phase out the waiting period and/or to eliminate it immediately for those with life-threatening illnesses (in addition to ESRD and ALS).

Does Medicaid cover high medical expenses?

In three-quarters of the states, Medicaid has a "medically needy" program, so that individuals with high medical expenses but too much income to quali fy for the regular program can still qualify for Medicaid.

Do you get Cobra insurance if you have no income?

If you've ever used COBRA, however, you know that the premiums are very high, especially for someone who no longer has earnings from work. Things may be a little more hopeful on the Medicaid front for some people. About a third of disability recipients receive Medicaid coverage during the waiting period.

When will I get my first SSDI?

Your first benefit would be paid for the month of December 2020, the sixth full month of disability. However, there is no waiting period if your disability results from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and you are approved for SSDI benefits on or after July 23, 2020.

How long do you have to wait to receive your first SSDI payment?

Generally, if your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is approved, you must wait five months before you can receive your first SSDI benefit payment. This means you would receive your first payment in the sixth full month after the date we find that your disability began.

How long does Medicare cover ALS?

Medicare Coverage If You're Disabled. We automatically enroll you in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) after you get disability benefits for two years. However, if your disability results from ALS, Medicare coverage begins sooner, generally the first month you are eligible for disability benefits.

What is Medicare Advantage Plan?

Medicare Advantage Plan (previously known as Part C) – people with Medicare Parts A and Part B can choose to receive all of their health care services through plans that are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare.

What is Medicare coverage?

Medicare Coverage If You're Disabled 1 Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. The taxes you paid while you were working financed this coverage. It’s provided at no cost to you. 2 Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay doctors' services, outpatient care, some medical supplies, and other preventive services. You will need to pay a monthly premium for this coverage if you want it.

When will SSDI pay in 2020?

We would pay your first benefit for the month of December 2020, the first full month of disability. We pay SSDI benefits in the month following the month for which they are due. This means that the benefit due for December 2020 would be paid to you in January 2021, and so on.

How to contact Medicare for a TTY?

If you have questions about this coverage, you can contact Medicare toll-free at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a Medicare Customer Service Representative. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

How long can you get Medicare if you stop receiving SSDI?

SSDI is a federal program that assists Americans with disabilities. Individuals who stop receiving SSDI benefits can continue Medicare coverage for 93 months. However, they can only get 93 months of Medicare if they’ve completed their nine-month work period.

How long can you get Medicare Part A?

Additionally, they become eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A for eight and a half years if they finish the nine-month period and their trial work period. In the meantime, they can also continue paying for your Part B coverage.

What happens if you move to a new address with Medicare Advantage?

If you relocate to a new address with Medicare Advantage or Part D plan you could lose your coverage. Private insurance companies sell these plans, which are specific to certain areas.

How long does it take to get Medicare?

Medicare benefits start on the first day of the month of your 65th birthday if you’re getting Social Security. It could take up to three months if you apply yourself, or longer if you apply using the General Enrollment Period.

Can you lie about Medigap?

When applying for a Medigap, you should never lie or attempt to leave out the truth. Doing so can lead to the cancelation of your coverage. You’ll need to answer health questions and undergo the medical underwriting process if you apply outside of your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. In this situation, it’s crucial to be as honest as possible about your health.

Can you lose Part A if you are remarried?

You can only lose premium-free Part A if you were eligible through your ex-spouse and got remarried and your new partner did not pay enough quarters either.

Can you lose supplemental Medicare?

Losing supplemental Medicare coverage is different from becoming dis-enrolled from Original Medicare. The following are reasons that can disqualify you from your current supplemental coverage.

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