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She will get part A automatically. Part B, I think, is also automatically provided and the premiums are deducted from her SSDI payments. Part B does not cover prescription medication and does not cover everything. A medicare gap or supplement plan is recommended.
Rickcin -- There is a 24-month wait period before most SSDI recipients can receive Medicare under age 65. The exceptions are if she has ESRD [kidney failure] or Lou Gehrig's disease [ALS].
Options for her right now possibly are: Medicaid, COBRA, a County clinic, early retirement health insurance through her former employer or group insurance through her husband's employer, or through the ACA [Obamacare - open enrollment for that is right now!].
Virginia is a state that has Medicaid waiver's - that possibly could help her, if she also lives in VA. Not sure, but worth looking into!
Rickcin -- There is a 24-month wait period before most SSDI recipients can receive Medicare under age 65. The exceptions are if she has ESRD [kidney failure] or Lou Gehrig's disease [ALS].
Options for her right now possibly are: Medicaid, COBRA, a County clinic, early retirement health insurance through her former employer or group insurance through her husband's employer, or through the ACA [Obamacare - open enrollment for that is right now!].
Virginia is a state that has Medicaid waiver's - that possibly could help her, if she also lives in VA. Not sure, but worth looking into!
Good luck, I am so sorry she became so ill.
She already has an Anthem Blue Cross plan and she was just approved for Disability so I was thinking she would immediately qualify for Part A & B coverage? I do realize that Part B gets deducted and a drug plan is separat. I just thought she was immediately covered by Medicare.
Sadly, this is not true. Just when people need the medical insurance the most, they have to wait. I really feel if more people realized about these horrible rules, they might urge for reform.
I am very glad she has her BC plan. That is a blessing!
It's actually 29 months. You're penalized 5 months from the date of disability; i.e., if the disability starts Jan 1, 2017,you're penalized benefits for 5 months after that (to June 1) and 2 years 5 months from the date of disability, so June 1, 2019. I was approved for SSDI from date of 6/27/16 and I won't receive Medicare until December 2018. I have Florida Blue coverage @ $180 a month lined up until that time. I don't know what Virginia has regarding the ACA for next year.
When I got approved for SSDI, I was immediately approved for Medicaid, but had to wait 6 months for Medicare. ( I was approved in Nov, Medicare started the following May), but that was many many years ago.
When my best friend got approved for SSDI some fewer many years ago, he had to also wait at least 6 mos., which again I was surprised at.
Now the wait is longer. Which mystified me.
As mentioned, see if she qualifies for Medicaid. If not she'll have to go on the exchanges.
There seems to be no other option.
I then had Medicaid for supplemental, and also pay for part D prescription plan for lower income people. Then I got married, and had to include spouse's income, and was booted from Medicaid simply because we got married. So I now pay for supplemental through AARP.
Conversely, now 13 years later, I have returned to work parttime, And as long as I'm under SGA ( Substantial Gain Activity), I keep my SSDI. If I go off SSDI completely, then strangely enough I can KEEP my Medicare for another 93 months!.
I can't cope with nor handle working more than SGA, so no worries.
I can also again file for Medicaid for "working persons with disabilities ", which allows,couples to earn more than straight Medicaid. Should save me the $200 I pay to United Health through AARP.
She might want to join AARP since she's over 50, as while you don't HAVE to belong, the $16 annual membership is cheap for the discounts you get and services you can get. AARP supplemental was the cheapest I found for supplemental.
Now if she has lots of expenses, she'd be best to go Medicare and a supplemental as a "Medicare Advantage " plan has lots of out of pocket copays for doctor and hospital benefits, and I never see a bill at all with Medicare and supsupplemental plan "F". There are other plan letters she can get and save in the monthly premium, but if likeme, she has a lot if medical issues, she'd be best with Medicare and AARP supplemental plan F to not have any copays and never see a bill for anything.
THIS IS IMPORTANT::;:
Also have her check her hospitals Patient Financial Assistance programs. My hospitals plan all is a discount depending on family size and income. Even a family of 4 at $94k a year can get a 25% discount on hospital billed services.you first have to have an insurance plan, but they will cover her additional costs until the Medicare and supplementsl come in, she can get a cheap catastrophic plan and get her a discount to cover the hospitals charges, for hospital and ancillary doctors office visits. Check out which hospitals in your area off these patient financial assistance programs!!!!!!! Ps. They DON'T advertise, so you habe to call or go in to the financial office and inquire and get an application.
There are systems in place, she'll have an easier time of it.
Until the she needs to be a patient patient and put off what she can until covered.
Best if luck to her in finding the right situation to meet her health care needs.
One of our family members was just approved for disability due to an illness at the age of 61.
How is she covered for medical insurance, is it Medicare Part B and when does her coverage begin. Thanks
Not sure how it works in VA, but in CA you can just call your county healthcare and ask them what to do, and they will help you apply for whatever plan you qualify for.
If she's on SSI disability, she should get Medicaid automatically (at least that's how it works here). In CA, Medicaid is called Medi-Cal. But, it's the same thing, basically. Depending on if there is more than one provider for Medicaid where she lives, she'd have to pick one.
If you're helping her out, maybe you could read her letters from SSA and maybe go to meetings there with her. If she is just getting SSI, and not SSDI, she'll also have to apply for SSA retirement before she turns 62 - if she has enough work credits for SSA retirement. When you only get SSI, you are required to take SSA early retirement at 62 yrs.
For now, though, you can probably make an appointment through your county healthcare system, where they probably have someone who helps people apply for whatever healthcare options they qualify for, and they should be able to answer questions on the best options.
She already has an Anthem Blue Cross plan and she was just approved for Disability so I was thinking she would immediately qualify for Part A & B coverage? I do realize that Part B gets deducted and a drug plan is separat. I just thought she was immediately covered by Medicare.
Nope, not for two years but if her income is low enough she can probably get medicaid.
Nope, not for two years but if her income is low enough she can probably get medicaid.
I believe you are correct and thanks for the response!
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