Beginner’s Guide to Medicare Disability Benefits

Medicare disability insurance is available to certain individuals. Unlike the traditional version of this health insurance package, enrollees can receive support at any age. If you want to receive Medicare for disabled people under 65 years of age, there are additional requirements you must meet. You need to be aware of these criteria before you plan on receiving benefits through this program. Otherwise, you may not be able to enroll in Medicare with a disability.

If you have a disability and Medicare insurance, you can receive financial support to help offset your health care costs. This program is managed by the federal government, which means you can enroll in any state in the country. In addition to meeting the Medicare disability requirements for enrollment, you need to understand which benefits you could receive. This can help you plan for the type of support you can obtain through this program.

Medicare Disability Eligibility Requirements

There are two ways individuals can automatically qualify for the Medicare supplement for disabled people under 65 years of age. The first is by receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Alternatively, individuals can qualify by receiving specific benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Furthermore, remember that there are additional Medicare disability requirements that applicants can meet to enroll. For example, if an applicant has End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), he or she can receive benefits.

If you do not meet these Medicare disability qualifications, you may be able to purchase your own Medicare insurance coverage. You can buy a plan if you:

• Are younger than 65 years of age.
• Have a disability.
• Can no longer receive Medicare because of your work situation.

Medicare Disability Requirements List of Illnesses

You may be wondering about what disabilities qualify for Medicare enrollment if you are a young adult or child. The disabilities you need to have in order to receive Medicare are the same as they are to enroll in SSDI. Therefore, if you want to obtain Medicare for a disability, you must have one of various conditions that relates to:

• Speech, neurological or mental disorders.
• Respiratory, digestive or cardiovascular disorders.
• Digestive, skin or endocrine disorders.
• Musculoskeletal or hematological disorders.

When can a disabled person apply for Medicare?

In many instances, you do not need to apply for Medicare supplement plans for disabled people under 65 years of age. Often, you will be automatically enrolled in the program. Therefore, as long as you are qualifying for Medicare disability benefits, you may be able to receive support without applying for them.

Medicare Disability Waiting Period

You may wonder, “How long after getting a disability can I get Medicare coverage?” Before you can begin collecting benefits, you need to serve a waiting period of 24 months. Your waiting period is the first 24 months when you are entitled to receive Medicare health insurance. However, this total may be reduced if you were previously disabled and have a new disability:

• That is the same or based on a previous disability you received compensation for.
• Within 60 months from when your previous disability benefits ended.
• Within 84 months from when your childhood, widows’ or widowers’ benefits finished.

Is Medicare free for disabled enrollees?

Medicare coverage for disabled adults and children can be free. This is possible for at least 93 months, during which the enrollee still has a disability. Otherwise, recipients may be responsible for purchasing policies and paying monthly premiums.