Disability & Medicare

It is important to remember that after you become eligible for Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits, you can also receive Medicare. Since many claimants get their health insurance through their employers, which terminates after they stop working, Medicare becomes vitally important. 

The lack of health insurance can also affect your ability to obtain SSD benefits. I represent a 58 year old claimant from Florida for his SSD claim. He had been a carpeting foreman and had developed shoulder and ankle problems. His internist, podiatrist, and orthopedist provided reports to support the SSD application. 

The State agency asked if the claimant was going to have surgery on his shoulder. I advised the State agency that the claimant could not afford to have the surgery because he had no health insurance. Shortly thereafter, the claimant’s SSD benefits were approved. 

When SSD benefits are approved, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare after you get SSD benefits for two years. The two parts of Medicare that you receive are hospital insurance and medical insurance.