What is Social Security Disability Medicare
If you are disabled, the understanding the Social Security Disability Medicare benefits is critical for you. Your medical bills can cripple your finances, so it becomes a valid question to ask whether your will receive some medical benefits over and above the monthly cash benefits that you are provided by the SSA.
If you have been approved for Social Security Disability, then yes, you are also eligible for Medicare. However, there are also a few terms and conditions that you must be aware of.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a government run health insurance program for people over the age of 65, disabled people under the age of 65 covered under Social Security Disability as well as those who are suffering from end-stage Renal Disease.
Social Security Disability – Medicare Waiting Period
Your medical benefits may not kick in as soon as you start getting your Social Security Disability benefits. There is a waiting period before you will start getting Medicare benefits. Usually, you will need to wait 2 years from your SSD Date of Entitlement to qualify for Medicare.
While you wait for your Medicare coverage to kick in, you may be eligible for medical insurance coverage from your former employer. You should call and find out if you may receive medical insurance coverage.
Social Security Disability Medicare Coverage
Medicare is divided into four sections – Part A,Part B, Part C and Part D.
Once you complete the waiting period for Medicare, you are automatically enrolled in the Medicare program and you are eligible for Medicare Part A. Mostly, if you are on Social Security Disability, you do not need to pay for Part A. Part A covers hospital expenses as well as a limited number of medical and hospice expenses.
Part B is your medical insurance and this is what covers your doctor’s appointments and other medical services. However, even if you are on Social Security Disability, you need to pay the insurance premium for Part B. If, however, you already have health insurance, you don’t need to take Part B. The catch is, if your do decide you want to take Part B later, you will need to pay extra for fresh enrolment.
Part C is called the Medicare Advantage Plan and is available in many areas of the country. This is basically where people who have Medicare Parts A and B receive all their health-care services from a third party healthy insurance companies that are approved by Medicare.
Part D is also relevant to Social Security Disability Medicare. This is the section that pays for your prescription drugs. However, like Part B, you have to pay a premium on this. Again, if you opt not to take Part D when you qualify, then you will have to pay a penalty if you wish to apply later.
A point to keep in mind here is that not all your prescription drugs will be covered by Part D. There is a cap on how much you can spend on prescription drugs per month. If you cross that limit, then you will need to pay for the drugs yourself.
While you would need to pay the premiums for Parts B and D, you need to also understand these costs nominal when compared to the amount you would need to pay if you were not covered by Medicare.
To find out more about the insurance premiums for Medicare, you can check the Medicare website.
In you wish to find out more about what Social Security Disability Medicare has to offer, you can called their toll-free helpline 1-800-MEDICARE. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
