Medicare Disability Questions

The Medicare health insurance program is a government-sponsored form of health coverage. People who have retired from the workforce are automatically eligible for Medicare coverage at age 65; however, people affected by a disability may qualify for coverage regardless of their age. Questions to ask when applying for Medicare disability benefits concern issues regarding eligibility requirements, waiting periods and trial work periods.

What Are The Medicare Eligibility Requirements For SSDI Recipients?

• Social security disability insurance, (SSDI), pays financial benefits to individuals unable to work as a result of a physical disability, according to Social Security Online. Individuals must have a long enough work history in which deductions were made towards social security taxes. An adult child can also qualify in cases where the child has a disability that started before the age of 22. The qualification requirements for SSDI and Medicare are the same, so once a person qualifies for SSDI, he's automatically eligible for Medicare insurance coverage. Disability determinations are based on employment status at the time of application and the severity of a person's disability condition. In general, the condition must be severe enough to prevent a person from carrying out basic work-related tasks.

How Do Waiting Periods Apply?

• Once a person qualifies for SSDI benefits, a five-month waiting period is required before the actual payments begin, according to Allsup, Inc., a social security disability resource site. The Social Security Administration requires this period to ensure a person actually has a long term disability. Once SSDI payments start, individuals can receive Medicare benefits after an additional 24-month qualifying period. Medicare requires this waiting period to ensure that any employer-based insurance coverages are fully utilized before Medicare coverage begins, according to Social Security Online. As a result, the total waiting period time for Medicare coverage amounts to 30 months when counting the five months waiting period before SSDI benefits begin.

How Does Temporary Employment Affect Medicare Benefits?

• As SSDI benefits provide financial assistance for people unable to work, certain conditions apply when a person returns to the workforce on a temporary basis. Medicare insurance includes hospital and medical coverage, which appears as Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. According to Social Security Online, Medicare Part A coverage can continue for as long as 93 months after a temporary, or trial work period provided the person is still disabled. SSDI cash benefits may continue or cease depending on how much income a person earns during the work period. Once the 93-month period ends, a person has the option of purchasing Part A and Part B coverage if he's still disabled.