There are Just 24 months Between S.S.D.I. and Medicare Automatic Qualification
The Social Security Administration estimated in December 2018 that 8.5 million Americans received Disability Income or S.S.D.I.. To get a sense of who is covered by S.S.D.I., check the Administration’s Definition of Disability and view its complete list of impairments for adults and children. What does this mean for you the agent? S.S.D.I. and Medicare work together to support individuals with disabilities. Independent Medicare agents have a rewarding opportunity to serve these disadvantaged beneficiaries. Whether someone is physically disabled and needs assistance with mobility or those with intellectual disabilities or those suffering with mental illnesses, they all need assistance with finding the right health coverage for them. Many times, S.S.D.I. beneficiaries qualify for Medicaid due to lower earnings over their lifetime. This provides you with a unique opportunity to partner with others to assist these beneficiaries. Once they have Medicare, you have a client for life! “Realizing the the implications that Medicare is not just for seniors 65 and older opens up your book of business to new streams of income.” It’s fairly simple, once a person has been on S.S.D.I. for 24 months, he or she automatically qualifies for Medicare. You can read more about eligibility for S.S.D.I. here. Individuals with S.S.D.I. can receive Medicare benefits before 24 months if they are fully disabled & have no expectation to work because of their disability. This is not granted automatically; the beneficiary must apply for it. I have had some clients receive Medicare benefits within three months of applying once they began receiving S.S.D.I..
Most states do not have Medicare Supplements available to individuals under age 65. If Medicare Supplement plans are available, they can be cost prohibitive because most companies are group or age rated. An individual on Medicare due to Disability is bound to have higher health costs, so they often go with a Medicare Advantage plan simply because that is their only choice. Many Medicare Advantage plans have different networks than your new S.S.D.I. clients may have used in the past, so make sure they are comfortable changing their doctors and specialists.
“It’s fairly simple: Once a person has been on S.S.D.I. for 24 months, he or she automatically qualifies for Medicare”
It’s often the case that many individuals with a disability & families with a disabled family member don’t know where to turn for help. Some have Medicaid, some have no insurance and some live off of their savings. Tragically, we have bared witness to cases where disabled clients have been Bankrupt by medical bills and are now on Medicaid after burning through their entire life savings because they had no insurance. Most are in their Forties or Fifties and believed they had at least 10 to 20 years or more to work.
Knowledgeable and caring Medicare agents can really make a positive difference in the lives of Disabled prospects by helping these individuals understand S.S.D.I. & Medicare. Realizing the the implications that Medicare is not just for seniors 65 and older opens up your book of business to new streams of income.
Call RB Insurance at 800-997-3107 or email to learn more about Social Security Disability Income, Medicare for Disabled individuals and how to Market yourself to new prospects. RB Insurance Group, llc. A Field Marketing Organization (FMO) for Insurance Agents and Agencies, specializing in the Senior Insurance market. The Agent Advantage Blog is designed with your business agents in mind. Explore the information below & subscribe to our blog to get CMS and regulatory updates with the agent’s perspective. Then give us a Call:800-997-3107 or Email: Producer@rbi-group.com to find out how RBI can help you expand your business!
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security*
Listing of Impairments – Adult Listings (Part A)
The following sections contain medical criteria that apply to the evaluation of impairments in adults age 18 and over and that may apply to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18 if the disease processes have a similar effect on adults and younger children.
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Listing of Impairments – Childhood Listings (Part B)
The following sections contain medical criteria that apply only to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18.
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