If you are one of the many that is approved for social security disability benefits this year, you are likely experiencing a big relief. But naturally, this is a change in life, and there may be many things you have to work through. One question that you may be wondering is if you need to pay for health insurance while on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The coverage you receive depends on what you were approved for. Individuals who are disabled and were approved for SSDI are eligible to receive Medicare and those who are approved for SSI will receive Medicaid.
There are different rules that apply for both SSDI and SSI as well. Those approved for SSDI won’t be eligible for Medicare benefits until two years after their date of entitlement. SSI, on the other hand, has no waiting period for individuals before they are eligible for Medicaid.
SSI and Medicaid
While SSI approval usually means automatic approval for Medicaid benefits, there are some exceptions. For example, in Illinois and Ohio, there is a lower asset limit for the Medicaid program than the SSI program. This means that the states make their own Medicaid decisions. If you are living in these states and have questions surrounding this, feel free to contact us.
SSI and Medicare
Is it possible to receive Medicare coverage when you are receiving SSI benefits? Like other individuals, Medicare coverage does not begin for SSI recipients until they reach the age of 65 if they were only entitled to receive monthly SSI disability benefits. At the age of 65, these individuals are able to file an “uninsured Medicare claim.” In this situation, the state pays the medical for an uninsured individual to be in Medicare so that their costs in health coverage.
SSDI and SSI Eligibility
There are situations in which disability recipients will be approved for concurrent benefits. This means that they will be able to collect disability from SSDI and SSI at the same time. The distribution of these benefits is not obvious, so any individuals who are approved for concurrent benefits should consult their Social Security office.
If you have questions on benefits or anything regarding SSDI or SSI benefits, or if you have been denied benefits, don’t hesitate to contact Tabak Law at 844-432-0114.