If you’ve been diagnosed with a disability, you may qualify for Medicare.  The type of disability has everything to do with when your coverage begins and whether you are automatically enrolled or if you need to take steps to start the enrollment process.

If you have a qualifying disability, you must first file for disability benefits through Social Security. After you have received disability benefits from Social Security (SSA) or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) for 24 months, you will automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare. Your Original Medicare coverage will start the first day of month 25. If you want additional coverage through other types of Medicare plans, such as a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan, contact us to learn how and when to enroll.

Exceptions:

  1. If you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, you will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) as soon as your Social Security disability benefits begin. There is no waiting period for Medicare coverage.
  1. If you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you can get Medicare no matter how old you are. If you’re on dialysis, Medicare coverage usually starts on the first day of the 4th month of your dialysis treatments.  However, coverage may start as early as the 1st month of dialysis if you meet both of these conditions:
  • You take part in a home dialysis training program offered by a Medicare-approved training facility to teach you how to give yourself dialysis treatments at home.
  • Your doctor expects you to finish training and be able to do your own dialysis treatments.

For more information, call 1-941-405-3900.

Leave a comment