Medicare Disability

Medicare Disability Benefits

Basically, Medicare is the country's health insurance program for people aged 65 and over. However, certain people who are younger than 65 years old can also qualify for Medicare benefits such as those who have disabilities and those who have permanent medical conditions, such as kidney failure, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others - this is called Medicare disability benefit. These programs that Medicare offers help with the cost of health care. But, it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.

To be eligible for Medicare Disability Benefits:

§ You must be 18 to 64. Eligibility for Medicare is tied to eligibility for Social Security Disability Income benefits.
§ You must qualify for and receive Supplementary Security Disability Income on a monthly basis in order to be eligible for Medical Disability benefits.

Medicare is financed by a portion of the payroll taxes paid by workers and their employers. It is also funded in part by monthly premiums deducted from Social Security checks. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is the agency in charge of the Medicare program. Medicare disability insurance has four parts:

1. Part A - Medical Insurance. It helps pay for the in-patient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility following a stay in the hospital, some home health care and hospice care.
2. Part B - Medical Insurance. It helps pay for doctors' services and many other medical services and supplies that are not covered by hospital insurance.
3. Part C - Medicare Advantage. It is formerly known as Medicare + Choice plans which are available in many areas. Those who have Medicare A and B can choose to receive all of their health care services through one of these provider organizations under Part C.
4. Part D - Prescription Drug Coverage. It helps pay medications that doctors prescribe for treatment.

Claimants who are approved for disability benefits will also receive Medicare disability benefit if the source of their benefits is Social Security Disability Income funding and Medicaid if the source of their disability benefits is Supplemental Security Income.

Social Security Disability recipients are eligible to receive Medicare disability benefits after two years after their date of entitlement. The date of entitlement is actually the EOD or Established Onset Date plus the five month waiting period. This means that, for example, if a social security claimant is approved for benefits and it is determined that his or her disability began on January 1, 2000, this would also be the established onset date. The date of entitlement would be this date plus five month waiting period. From the example, the date of entitlement would be June 1, 2000 and the claimant would be eligible to receive Medicare disability benefits two years from this date, which is June 1, 2002.

If you may have noticed, the word from is used rather than after, because in most cases, claimants are approved with onset dates that are established several years back. In other words, it is possible for a claimant to have already served the two- year waiting period for Medicare disability benefit by the time they begin to draw their benefits. However, those who are granted with Supplementary Security Income will not receive Medicare, but rather Medicaid. It is a needs-based, state and country administered program which provides for a number of prescriptions and doctors visit each month.