Not Every Disability Will Qualify You

Not everyone who is eligible for Medicare is65 years and older.

People with disabilities factor into this equation.

Definitions of disability can vary from person to person but Medicare guidelines leave no room for interpretation.

A man with a disability sitting in his wheelchair

Maskot / Maskot / Getty Images

Someone must be incapacitated for the long term.

You will meet disability criteria for Medicare eligibility only if you fall into one of the following three categories.

You are immediately eligible for Medicare and should apply as soon as possible.

There is no waiting period.

When your kidneys fail, your body cannot filter toxins out of the body.

You will require dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

Your coverage benefits begin three months after you start dialysis treatment.

If you get a kidney transplant, Medicare coverage may not be long term.

This process alone can take several months to complete.

Social Security Disability Requirements

Social Security requires that specific medical requirements be met for each disability.

A medical professional will need to evaluate you and complete documentation to confirm that these criteria are met.

It may take three to six months for the Social Security Administration to approve your system.

The software process could be expedited if your medical condition is on the list of Compassionate Allowances Conditions.

The approval of your software is followed by a five-month waiting period before you actually receive SSDI benefits.

You are not eligible for Medicare until you have received SSDI benefits for at least 24 months.

This assures the government that the disability is severe enough to warrant Medicare coverage.

Summary

Medicare is not only for senior citizens.

Take the necessary steps towards getting the health coverage you need.

Social Security.Social security handbook: 602. impairment lasting or expected to last at least 12 months.

The ALS Association.What is ALS?

Center for Medicare Advocacy.Medicare coverage for people with disabilities.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease in the United States, 2023.

Social Security.Listing of Impairments - Adult Listings (Part A).

Social Security.Compassionate allowances conditions.

Social Security.Is there a waiting period for Social Security disability benefits?