How Long Does It Take To Get Medicare After Being Approved For Disability?
How long does it take to get Medicare after being approved for disability? Should we wait for two years to get the benefit? All social security disability beneficiaries can receive Medicare coverage after two years of eligibility. However, all the recipients do not need to wait for two years to get Medicare coverage. Go through the following to have more details. It will help you to know how long you should wait for Medicare coverage.
How Long Does It Take To Get Medicare After Being Approved For Disability?
You might get the coverage early under certain c
onditions beyond age requirements and more. For example, when you have a disability much before the application date and Medicare benefit period, you can expect the coverage before two years. The same is about some medical conditions.
When Medicare Coverage Starts
As a general rule, the waiting period is two years from the date of the SSDA entitlement. This is the date when your disability begins. However, when you have a disability much before, then you have already crossed two years waiting period.
In that condition, the onset date for the payment can be seventeen months before the application date. The reason is that Social Security will allow only twelve months of benefits maximum. You will get twelve months before the application and five months for your waiting period. So, you can be eligible for the coverage one year after you apply for this benefit. But when an applicant applies soon after the disability, he/she will have to wait for two years and five months after submitting the application.
You might be thinking that why you need to wait for two years to get your Medicare coverage — especially if you’re working full time. The waiting period is applicable to all those who apply soon after being disabled. This is part of the Medicare disability process. The waiting period is there as a cost-saving measure. Therefore, you should not expect any change.
When Can Exceptions Be Made?
Exceptions can be made under certain circumstances. There are a few medical conditions that can enable you to get Medicare coverage before the time. These are considered severe medical conditions and warrant immediate treatment. If you are suffering from any of the following conditions, you can expedite the process to get the coverage early.
End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD): This kidney disease can cause kidney failure. If you are suffering from ESRD, you might need a kidney transplant. In that condition, you can get coverage from the third month after the month of the dialysis.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Any person, who is suffering from ALS, will be qualified to get Medicare coverage immediately after he/she will be eligible to get disability benefit payments.
If you do not qualify for all these, you can try the Medicaid program. Medicaid program can help all those with low assets and low income. Once you qualify for this program, you can get the coverage during two years waiting period.
Conclusion
How long does it take to get Medicare after being approved for disability? You will have to wait for two years in a normal condition. However, you can expect a few exceptions under some circumstances such as medical emergency or disability before the application date. If you’re curious about if your situation is one of the exceptions, be sure to reach out to a Medicare specialist to learn more about specifics in your state.