How long must I wait to get health insurance if approved

[brians2000]

How long must a person be on disability before they get health insurance? I heard the reciepiant must wait 18 months for it but Im not sure. Thanks, Brian

[HeyJoe]

2 years plus 5 month wait from your disability date as determined by social security.

[fallenangell]

Yup, HeyJoe is right. It took me three and a half years to get approved for SSDI (and just got my backpay yesterday!! horay!) and they said that since it was past the 24 month mark, I would start on Medicare immediately.

BUT, since the judge gave me a disability date 6 months before my date of application, I would not have had to wait the 5 months for it to kick in...it would actually have started the 24th month after the date of my application.

So 24 months is the minimum after you are approved, and it may have to be the 24 plus 5 months, depending on what the date of your disability is determined to be. I hope that makes sense.

If you don't have health insurance, try your local Department of Human Services (or Social Services, whichever name it is called by in your state). Here in Iowa they have a program for medically needy people to get on Medicaid until they are approved from SSA.

Good luck.

Angell

[GJZH]

Brian,

I was told it was two years from the date you are approved....I was approved back to September 2005 so they will allow me to pick up the Medicare in September of this year....

[HeyJoe]

Its 2 years 5 months from your disability start date not your approval date. I had a disability start date of 10/03 and did not get medicare until 3/06.

[fallenangell]

Again, Joe is right. Your Medicare start date is dependent upon your DISABILITY date, not your APPROVAL date.

I was given a fully favorable decision in October of this last year, and my Medicare started the next month since it took over 24 months for my case to be decided. I received my Medicare card right away also.

If it takes you over 2 years to get approved, then you would qualify for Medicare as soon as your approval, because the 24 months would already be up. That's how it was for me, and why my Medicare started immediately after my approval.

If they are making you wait for the 24 months after your APPROVAL date, they are giving you the wrong information and you should check back with them.

Angell