Medicare and Medicaid
In addition to Social Security disability benefits and Social Security income benefits, Medicare or Medicaid benefits may be available for you and your family if one of you suffers from a disability that prevents you from working.
Medicare provides people 65 and older assistance with medical expenses. It also provides benefits for those who are disabled and who have permanent kidney failure or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Medicare can help you pay for medical costs, but it may not cover all the fees associated with long-term disability care.
There are four separate parts of Medicare, all of which have slightly different requirements for eligibility. Part A covers hospital care. Anyone who is eligible for Social Security benefits, including disability or income benefits, is eligible for Medicare Part A to help them meet the costs of surgery and other conditions that require hospital visits.
Medicare Eligibility
If a disability makes you eligible for Medicare Part A, it also makes you eligible for Medicare Part B, which helps cover medical costs that are not hospital-related, such as doctor appointment fees. Most people must pay a small monthly premium to be covered by Medicare's Part B medical insurance. If you have a high income, you will be expected to pay more in premium costs. However, the rules of the Social Security disability program limit how much income you may receive in one month and still be eligible for your Social Security benefits.
Medicare Part C is "gap coverage" that pays for things Parts A and B may not cover, such as extra days in the hospital. You do not have to sign up for Medicare Part C, but it may help if your condition requires more medical care than Parts A and B cover.
Medicare Part D pays for prescription medications. Like Part B, you will be expected to pay a small premium for Part D coverage, but it may be beneficial if your condition requires several different medications, expensive medications, or both. You do not have to sign up for Part D if you do not want or need to.
Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare. While Medicare is run by the federal government, Medicaid is run by separate state governments. Medicaid can help pay for hospital visits and other medical care for people with low income and few resources. Disabled individuals may qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. In Missouri, Medicaid is known as MO HealthNet and covers a wide range of medical needs and services. The program may help you meet medical costs that Medicare does not cover, or it may provide coverage for your children or other family members who are not covered by Medicare.
Navigating the complex maze of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid can be overwhelming, particularly if you are already coping with the daily demands of a disabling illness or injury. Page Law can help put you in contact with experienced Missouri Medicare and Medicaid lawyers. They will carefully examine your case and fight to ensure that you receive the full amount of benefits you are entitled to. For more information, contact Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free consultation.
Additional Social Security Disability Information
- Digestive Disorders
- Disability Denial and Reconsideration
- Disability FAQ
- Heart Disorders
- Medicare/Medicaid
- Social Security Checks
- Social Security Disability
- Social Security FAQ
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Vision Disorders
