Are you eligible for Social Security disability benefits? Then you may qualify for Medicare if you’re under 65 to cover your medical costs. Social security benefits are monthly benefits you get to help reduce expenses for a permanent disability.
Most people have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for at least two years so they can sign up for Medicare. However, not every Social Security beneficiary has to wait for two years to enroll in Medicare.
How to Qualify for Social Security disability and Medicare benefits
If you cannot work for a period of 12 months or longer because of a permanent disability. Then visit the Social Security Administration at www.ssa.gov and apply for Social Security disability. If you paid Social Security taxes and worked a job that qualifies for Social Security, then you are eligible.
Also, you must not be able to perform at your normal job because of your medical condition. Plus your education level, age, or physical limitations should exclude you from finding a new line of work, or you can’t find a good replacement. Your doctor may disqualify you from Social Security disability benefits if you do not stick to your recommended treatment plan.
Depending on your situation, you may enroll in Medicare if you had Social Security benefits for at least 24 months or right away. The following is when and how to enroll based on your condition.
Usually, you must collect Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months to enroll in Medicare. Some people may enroll right away. Here’s when and how to enroll based on various disability situations.
Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease?
Medicare Part A will enroll you automatically if you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). The first month that you start getting Social Security disability benefits is the month you will enroll in Medicare. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) will enroll you if you reside in one of the states in America or the District of Columbia. If you have Medicare Part B prior to automatic enrollment then you can deny the enrollment. For prescription drug insurance, sign up for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan separately.
What to know if you’ve been collecting Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months
Medicare Parts A and B will automatically enroll you two years after you first obtained your Social Security benefits. You are an exception if you have end-stage renal disease or don’t live in the District of Columbia or the United States.
Medicare Part D allows you to have prescription drug insurance. Through a private insurance carrier, you can get a Medicare prescription drug plan if you want it. 3 months before the 25th month of your Social Security disability benefits is when you can enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
Here’s what you can do if you want to enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan:
- Call 1–800-MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227), TTY users 1–877–486–2048), All day (24 hours) and 7 days a week
- Enroll in a plan directly online, by mail, or by phone.
- Use the Medicare Insurance Co plan comparison tools on this page.
- Use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
How to enroll if you have end stage renal disease (ESRD)
You have to enroll in Medicare manually if you have kidney failure (or ESRD). Here is how you can do it:
- Call 1–800–772–1213 (TTY users 1–800–0778), Monday — Friday, 7AM — 7PM
- You can visit your local Social Security office and enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
- Or you can visit https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/
Read above if you want to know how to apply to a Medicare prescription drug plan.
Do you reside outside of the United States and District of Columbia?
If you reside in a U.S. territory (like Puerto Rico), but don’t live in the U.S. or Washington D.C., then your automatic enrollment can only be in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). You must manually enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan and Medicare Part B as it is always separate.
Here’s how you can enroll:
- By phone at 1–800–772–1213 (TTY users 1–800–0778), Monday — Friday, from 7AM — 7PM
- In person at your local Social Security office
- Online at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/
Affordable Care Act Government Health Plans
If you qualify for Medicare, the federal government and state governments offer many choices for healthcare plans.
If you already have an existing medical condition – you cannot be denied coverage.
Even if you get a medical condition while you are covered, you still can’t be dropped from coverage