Jul 15, 2009

House Health Care Bill Does Not Eliminate Medicare Waiting Period

The Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives has released its version of a bill to improve health care in the United States. It is a very long bill and I could have missed something, but I do not think there is anything in it to eliminate the 24 month waiting period for Medicare after one becomes entitled to disability benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. Actually, the waiting period is more like 29 or 30 months since it is on top of the five month waiting period after becoming disabled before entitlement to cash benefits begins -- and the five months must be full calendar months. Stop work on July 2 and you cannot count July as a waiting period month.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Was the training to relieve stress or for actual training? That is the $700,000 question. If it was to relieve stress then the claims representatives and the service representative should have been at "Casino Night" since we deal with the public and get the death threats. No wonder Social Security employees do not have a signed contract.

Anonymous said...

I have a question about the waiting period for Medicare. Is there a waiting period for Medicare when you apply for retirement benefits? What if you apply for reduced retirement benefits at age 62? Does anyone know? Thanks you for your help.