Medicare is federally-funded health insurance for Americans 65 years of age and over as well as those individuals with qualifying medical conditions. It is possible for a disabled individual to receive Medicare Part A insurance coverage. The Social Security Administration and Medicare eligibility rules must be met to get Medicare disability coverage.
Disability Definition
An individual can get disability payments from Social Security if he meets the definition of totally disabled under Social Security guidelines. An application must be submitted to the Social Security Administration for disability payments. To be considered totally disabled, the applicant must be unable to work at any job, and the disability must be expected to last for at least a year. Social Security disability coverage is only provided for long-term disabilities.
Medicare Part A Coverage
If you meet the definition of disabled, you will receive Social Security disability payments and become eligible for Medicare health insurance. Part A of Medicare is considered hospital insurance and covers required medical care received in a hospital or nursing home. If you are disabled and receiving disability payments from a source that is not Social Security, you cannot get Medicare coverage.
Time Frame
Social Security disability does not take effect immediately when you become disabled. The payments from Social Security start six months after the date on which you became disabled. You are eligible for Medicare coverage 24 months after you start receiving Social Security disability payments. This means you will be able to get Medicare Part A coverage 30 months after you became disabled. At the 24-month point you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare. You will receive your Medicare card three months before your effective date.
Medicare Part B
Your automatic enrollment in Medicare will include both Parts A and B. Part A covers hospital costs, and Part B covers doctor charges and outpatient health care. There is a monthly premium for Part B coverage. The premium will be deducted from your Social Security disability check; as of 2011, the monthly premium was approximately $100. You can decline Part B by contacting Medicare at the number on the back of your ID card.
Tags: Social Security, disability payments, Medicare Part, Security disability, Social Security disability
