Some Social Security Disability Beneficiaries Must Wait Years for Medicare

Menlo Park, CAA recent study revealed that many people under the age of 65 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are struggling to get by.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">Those with permanent disabilities can receive Social Security before they become senior citizens, reports the Tucson Citizen. They are also eligible for Medicare assistance but have to wait up to 24 months to receive it, putting strain on their already stretched budget, according to a study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The study surveyed a number of Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 and found that about half of them have five or more chronic health conditions, compared to just 25 percent of senior citizens.

These health problems can mean that the 24-month waiting period is perilous, according to the study.

"The waiting period for Medicare poses a potentially major access barrier to health care for uninsured disabled adults who—by definition—have serious, preexisting conditions that require ongoing medical attention," said the Kaiser report.

In addition, the approval process for Medicare for those with Social Security Disability Insurance can take years, according to the news source.