If you have a certain diagnosis, you may meet the requirements before meet the general age requirement. You will be automatically signed up for Medicare if you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits.
The conditions that can help you qualify for Medicare regardless of your age are Lou Gehrig’s Disease, End-Stage Renal Disease and certain qualifying disabilities. Read on to learn more about these conditions and how they affect Medicare eligibility for early enrollment.
- Lou Gehrig’s Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
This rare condition makes it increasingly difficult to perform physical tasks like breathing, speaking, and swallowing. ALS causes problems with your muscles by affecting your nervous system.
- Permanent Kidney Failure or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
If your kidneys are failing and you need a transplant or routine dialysis, you qualify for Medicare.
- Qualifying Disabilities
You may meet requirements for Medicare if you have a disability and you have received Social Security disability for 24 months.
To meet the requirements for Social Security disability benefits, all of the following must be true:
· You have worked for enough time or recently enough. The amount of time depends on your age.
· You are totally disabled. You will not meet the requirements if you are partially or temporarily disabled.
· You cannot do the same work because of the disability.
· The Social Security Administration decides you cannot do different work because of your condition.
· Your disability has or will last for at least a year or result in death.
If you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits, you will automatically be signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B during your 25th month of collecting benefits.
Many applicants may qualify for free Medicare Part A. If you collect certain disability benefits, you may also receive other parts of Medicare for free.
