Did you know that if you are under age 65 and have a disability you may be eligible for Medicare? If you have questions about this or your health insurance options, SHIIP can help.
SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, is a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance that provides free, unbiased counseling about Medicare, not just to seniors but also to people on Medicare due to disability.
SHIIP can help you determine if you are eligible for Medicare. You may be eligible for Medicare disability benefits if you are under 65 and:
• You have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months; or
• You receive a disability annuity from the railroad retirement board
and meet certain conditions; or
• You have worked long enough in a government job where Medicare
taxes were paid and have met Social Security disability program
requirements.
To receive Social Security Disability Insurance, a date of on-set must be established and a five-month waiting period must be served before payments begin.
In the case of permanent kidney failure, an individual is eligible for Medicare at any age if the person is receiving maintenance dialysis or kidney transplant and is:
• Eligible for or receiving monthly benefits under Social Security or
the railroad retirement system; or
• A dependent child or spouse (including divorced spouse) of a worker
(living or deceased) who has worked long enough under Social Security
or in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid.
In most circumstances, Medicare disability benefits will begin once Social Security disability income (SSDI) benefits are received for 24 months. For people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) or End Stage Renal Disease, the benefits may begin earlier.
You can apply for disability benefits at your local Social Security office, apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov or call toll free 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to file an application.
