Medicare benefits are available to individuals who are age 65 and older as well as people who have been diagnosed with disabilities. Anyone who is under 65 must have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months or longer to be eligible for Medicare. This is how to qualify for Medicare under 65.
Qualifying For Medicare
Although most Medicare beneficiaries are age 65 and older, there is a large population of people who are under age 65 and are enrolled in Medicare. In order to qualify for Medicare under age 65, you must be diagnosed with a disability and receiving Social Security Benefits. The exception to this rule applies to people who have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
People diagnosed with either of these conditions are automatically eligible for Part A and Part B benefits. People with ESRD will become eligible around 3 months after a course of regular dialysis or after a kidney transplant, while people with ALS become eligible immediately after collecting Social Security Disability benefits.
What Benefits Do People With Disabilities Get From Medicare?
The Medicare benefits offered to people with disabilities are the same as those offered to people who qualify based on their age. Once you are eligible for Medicare, you have free range to apply for all of the different Medicare programs, regardless of how you qualified. Though, in some cases, people with certain disabilities or chronic conditions may have access to Special Needs Plans that only accept people who have special needs.
Can You Be Denied Medicare Coverage?
There aren’t any conditions or diseases that automatically disqualify you from receiving Medicare benefits. You cannot be denied Medicare benefits based on underlying conditions or diagnosis and Medicare cannot reject you because you will need health care for a long time. You also cannot be denied benefits because you have a health condition that is unlikely to ever improve.
How Long Do You Keep Disability Medicare Coverage?
If you receive Medicare benefits due to a disability, your coverage will last for as long as you remain medically disabled. There are other rules that apply to individuals who are disabled and still working and people who are receiving disability benefits but have earned income that exceeds a certain threshold. How long you can maintain disability coverage varies, so discuss the topic further with a Medicare professional.
Medicare Benefits For People Under 65
If you are under 65 and medically disabled, we can help you get Medicare coverage. Don’t wait to get the health care coverage you need. Contact us now for more information about Medicare enrollment for people under 65.