When you are approved for Social Security/ Disability, when does your Medicare coverage kick in? Someone told my father in law you have to wait one year from the date you applied for disability, and other people have told him you have to wait one year from the date you got your first check. Anybody know what’s right?
2 responses so far ↓
1 HDoyle1967
Call the social security office and ask them when does your medical coverage start. It should start immediately but you are in US and I am in Canada. Take care Heather
2 Tenn Gal
I know from past experience with a family member, you have to wait 24 months from the time you were disabled for Medicare to take effect. It’s not fair but that’s the way the system is run
Taken from their website:
Do I automatically get Medicare benefits if I’m eligible for disability benefits?
Answer
We will automatically enroll you in Medicare after you get disability benefits for two years. We start counting the 24 months from the month you were entitled to receive Disability, not the month when you received your first check.