There are 24 months Between S.S.D.I. & Medicare Automatic Qualification

What You Need to Know to Grow Your Book of Business.

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..

Independent Medicare Agents have a Rewarding Opportunity to serve these Disadvantaged Beneficiaries

RBI SSDI Medicare Advantage Social Security Disability Benefits

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.

1.00 Musculoskeletal System	2.00 Special Senses and Speech	3.00 Respiratory Disorders
4.00 Cardiovascular System	5.00 Digestive System	6.00 Genitourinary Disorders
7.00 Hematological Disorders	8.00 Skin Disorders	9.00 Endocrine Disorders
10.00 Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems	11.00 Neurological Disorders	12.00 Mental Disorders
13.00 Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)	14.00 Immune System Disorders

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.

100.00 Low Birth Weight and Failure to Thrive	101.00 Musculoskeletal System	102.00 Special Senses and Speech
103.00 Respiratory Disorders	104.00 Cardiovascular System	105.00 Digestive System
106.00 Genitourinary Disorders	107.00 Hematological Disorders	108.00 Skin Disorders
109.00 Endocrine Disorders	110.00 Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems	111.00 Neurological Disorders
112.00 Mental Disorders	113.00 Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)	114.00 Immune System Disorders

*Information from Social Security Administration Website:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ChildhoodListings.htm

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

Community marketing was one of the easiest, but also one of the most challenging things I did when I was actively writing new business for my agency in Utah. As an agent selling Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements, Dual Special Needs and now final expense products for the past 10 years, I’ve found that being actively involved in my community was rewarding spiritually, but also in the sense that it helped me market my business.

Community marketing is a fairly simple concept. It means getting yourself in front of as many individuals who could use some advice about their health insurance coverage options as you can. The best part is connecting your business with your interest in giving back to your community can still be compliant with the Medicare Marketing Guidelines.

It’s fairly inexpensive to market yourself to the community. You may have to pay for a booth at informal events like senior expos or join a group, but it has a great return on the investment if your volunteering leads to even one sale. Community marketing requires a bigger investment of time and energy, so be forewarned: Staying with it for the long haul can be tough, and not always having the advice and guidance you give lead to a sale can be discouraging.

Members participate in the Unified Relay Across America in anticipation of the Special Olympics World Games, held July 25-August 2. Image courtesy of Special Olympics Utah’s Facebook page

Medicare and other health coverage options for children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities

I volunteered with special Olympics Utah when I first got started in the business after an appointment with a parent whose son had Down Syndrome. She told me there were a lot of parents like her who had no idea what programs were available for their children for health insurance other than Medicaid. In fact, Medicare serves individuals over the age of 18 who also have a physical or intellectual disability. One thing led to another, and that Saturday I showed up for an event was a timer for the 100-yard dash. I watched the kids and teens all afternoon, and they introduced me to their parents.

I went to several Special Olympics meetups in the next few weeks and was introduced each time as The Medicare Guy because I knew a lot about Medicare and Dual Special Needs Programs that I could share. Whenever I got a phone call about “Where can I take my daughter to get her teeth cleaned?” or “Where can I find hearing aids for my son?” I had the answer. I knew which DD case managers did the best job of helping their clients manage things like adult day care and how to apply for community grants to help them pay for the cost.

I met a lot of people and listened to many stories as I helped out with events. Sometimes I couldn’t do anything for them other than listen and help them figure out what the best fit for their health and financial situations were, but the fact that I helped them breathe a little easier means a lot to me. I never walked away without asking people to refer their friends and family to me for their own questions.

There’s nothing better than saving someone $300 per month when they make $,1000 or less or helping a family find the right coverage for their special-needs children. You will be their friend for life, and they will tell all of your friends about you.

Call RB Insurance at (800) 997 3107 or email me to learn more about serving Medicare’s many members through community marketing. Click here to subscribe to our blog for more insights on how you can build a portfolio of products to market yourself and build your Medicare book of business.

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