Am I Eligible for Medicare if I am Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits?

If you are unable to work due to a disabling condition, your income is not the only thing that ends – in most cases your medical insurance ends as well. This is why so many Social Security Disability applicants wonder whether or not they will are eligible to receive Medicare benefits. The answer is yes you can receive Medicare benefits to help cover medical costs, but not right away.

If you have been entitled to Social Security Disability benefits for a period of 24 months then you will become eligible to begin receiving Medicare benefits on the 25th month.

What Does Medicare Cover?

The type of coverage you are provided through Medicare depends on the type of Medicare you decide to accept. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. In most circumstances, there is no charge for Medicare Part A coverage. This type of Medicare pays for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facilities, long-term hospital care, inpatient rehabilitation, hospice care, home health care, inpatient psychiatric care and obesity bariatric surgery.

Medicare Part B is different from Medicare Part A. Medicare Part B is more like a traditional medical insurance plan. In most cases, you will need to pay a premium in order to receive Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B covers any services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition as long as they meet the accepted standards of medical practice. Medicare Part B also covers preventative services such as vaccinations and routine physical exams.

You can learn more at www.medicare.org or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

You can also Contact Me to schedule an appointment and we can sit down and talk about your individual needs and answer any of your questions. There is no cost or obligation to talk or meet with me.  I would be glad to talk to you and answer questions about Medicare in Maine.  You can use the Contact Me page or call me at (207) 370-0143*.