This post discusses Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security Disability. Clients often ask which type of medical coverage they can receive if they are found disabled by the Social Security Administration.
The answer depends on which type of benefit you are approved for. There are two types of Social Security Disability benefits: SSDI (Disability Insurance Benefits) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income).
If you are approved for SSDI, you are entitled to Medicare. You have to wait two years after the date you begin receiving SSDI for your Medicare to kick in. Usually Social Security sends you a Medicare card after two years. Medicare is broken into different parts (A, B, C and D).
- Part A - helps pay for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care and other services. There is usually not a premium for Part A.
- Part B - helps pay for doctors' fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A. There is a premium for Part B, which is currently $134 (2018) for most people.
- Part C - a.k.a. Medicare Advantage plans allow you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. These plans may help lower your costs of receiving medical services, or you may get extra benefits for an additional monthly fee. You must have both Parts A and B to enroll in Part C.
- Part D - (prescription drug coverage) is voluntary and the costs are paid for by the monthly premiums of enrollees and Medicare. Unlike Part B in which you are automatically enrolled and must opt out if you do not want it, with Part D you have to opt in by filling out a form and enrolling in an approved plan. For more information look here or here.
If you are approved for SSI, in North Carolina, you are automatically entitled to Medicaid and do not need to apply. There is no waiting period or premiums for Medicaid.
If you are approved for Social Security Disability, you will either be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. The problem comes when you are unable to afford medical treatment while your disability case is pending. I advise clients to apply for Medicaid at their local Social Services; and try to access free/low-cost treatment sources in their community. You can also contact the pharmaceutical companies that make your medicines and try to get into their patient assistance programs. Look here or here for more information.
If you need a Social Security Disability Attorney in NC, give The Bishop Law Firm a call today, 919-615-3095!
Resources:
- https://www.disabilitylawfirmnc.com/ssdi-and-ssi/
- https://www.disabilitylawfirmnc.com/social-security-disability/?swcfpc=1#Types_of_Social_Security_Disability_Benefits
- http://www.medicare.gov/
- http://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/costs-at-a-glance/costs-at-glance.html
- http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/medicaid/
- https://www.disabilitylawfirmnc.com/what-a-claimant-needs-to-do-to-help-their-social-security-disability-attorney/
- https://www.disabilitylawfirmnc.com/keys-to-winning-your-social-security-disability-case/
