WHEN DO YOU QUALILFY FOR MEDICARE?
Medicare is a health insurance program for the elderly and disabled. There are two ways in which an individual may qualify for Medicare coverage.
The first way is by reaching age 65. You are entitled to receive Medicare on the first day of the month of your 65th birthday. You can receive reduced retirement benefits from Social Security as early as age 62 but this does not qualify for Medicare.
The second way to obtain Medicare is to be disabled prior to age 65. Medicare will begin at the earliest of the following dates: the date you become 65 years of age, OR 24 months after you qualify for Social Security disability payments.
For example, if you were found to have first become disabled under Title II on February 15th, you would not receive payment for the first 5 full months, the waiting period. Your first date eligible for payment would be August 1st. 24 months later you would become eligible for Medicare (assuming you did not turn age 65 prior to the expiration of the 24 month period). So, Medicare has a rather lengthy waiting period. A person can be disabled and still not be immediately eligible for Medicare.
Medicaid is a separate program, a joint effort between the federal and state governments. Medicaid comes with a disability decision under Title XVI--Supplemental Security Income or SSI. Medicare, on the other hand, comes with a disability decision under Title II or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
The differences in between Medicare and Medicaid can be confusing. The regulations about eligibility can also be confusing.
The first way is by reaching age 65. You are entitled to receive Medicare on the first day of the month of your 65th birthday. You can receive reduced retirement benefits from Social Security as early as age 62 but this does not qualify for Medicare.
The second way to obtain Medicare is to be disabled prior to age 65. Medicare will begin at the earliest of the following dates: the date you become 65 years of age, OR 24 months after you qualify for Social Security disability payments.
For example, if you were found to have first become disabled under Title II on February 15th, you would not receive payment for the first 5 full months, the waiting period. Your first date eligible for payment would be August 1st. 24 months later you would become eligible for Medicare (assuming you did not turn age 65 prior to the expiration of the 24 month period). So, Medicare has a rather lengthy waiting period. A person can be disabled and still not be immediately eligible for Medicare.
Medicaid is a separate program, a joint effort between the federal and state governments. Medicaid comes with a disability decision under Title XVI--Supplemental Security Income or SSI. Medicare, on the other hand, comes with a disability decision under Title II or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
The differences in between Medicare and Medicaid can be confusing. The regulations about eligibility can also be confusing.
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