Disabled Asking For "Early" Medicare Enrollment
NPR recently reported on Alzheimer's patients trying to get Medicare coverage sooner than later. The general rule is that a disabled person on Social Security Disability must wait two years from the date their disability began to become eligible for Medicare. Apparently, Congress wanted to make sure that people were really sick, and really needed medical care, before they were enrolled in the Medicare system. There are a few exceptions, but for most, there is a two year wait. Another premise underlying the two year wait is the notion that most people are insured, and unless they are made to wait, these folks will cancel their insurance and get on Medicare to save money.
Obviously, this is not the case, especially in today's health care environment. I have read of some proposals in Congress, which are part of the health care reform push, that would decrease the wait time, but it is a gradual reduction of the wait time, over years, that offers no quick fix. It will interesting to see how the Congress addresses this issue.
Other Helpful Links:
Amputee Coalition of America Fights To Eliminate Two Year Wait Period
